Bioassay of Technical Grade Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether for Possible Carcinogenicity (CAS No. 108-60-1)

Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is a beta-haloether and a byproduct of propylene oxide and propylene glycol manufacture. A bioassay of technical grade bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether for possible carcinogenicity was conducted by administering the test chemical by gavage to F344 rats. Groups of 50 rats of each sex were administered a solution of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether in corn oil 5 days per week at either 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for 103 weeks. Vehicle controls consisted of groups of 50 rats of each sex that were administered the corn oil alone. Untreated-control groups of the same size were also used. All surviving rats were killed at week 104 or 105. Mean body weights of the dosed groups of male and female rats were lower than those of the corresponding vehicle-control groups throughout most of the study and were dose related. Similarly, survivals of the high-dose males and of both the high- and low-dose females were lower than those of the corresponding vehicle controls and were dose related. Almost all animals in the high-dose groups died by the end of the bioassay. No tumors occurred in the dosed groups of rats of either sex at incidences that were significantly higher than those of the vehicle-control groups. It is concluded that under the conditions of this bioassay, the technical-grade test material, bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether, was not carcinogenic for F344 rats of either sex. Levels of Evidence of Carcinogenicity: Male Rats: Negative Female Rats: Negative Synonym: bis(2-chloro-isopropyl) ether Report Date: 1979