1,3-Butadiene: toxicity and carcinogenicity in laboratory animals and in humans

1,3-Butadiene is a high production volume chemical used largely in the manufacture of synthetic rubber. The production and use of 1,3-butadiene increased dramatically during World War II with the development of the synthetic rubber industry. Before the 1980s, 1,3-butadiene was not considered to be particularly hazardous to human health; therefore, OSHA established a permissible limit of 1,000 ppm for occupational exposure to this chemical. Results of recent inhalation carcinogenicity studies have demonstrated clearly that 1,3-butadiene is a multiple-organ carcinogen in Sprague-Dawley rats and in B6C3F1 mice. Particularly noteworthy in mice were the early occurrences and extensive development of lymphomas, the induction of uncommon hemangiosarcomas of the heart, and the development of malignant lung tumors at exposure concentrations as low as 6.25 ppm. Because 6.25 ppm was the lowest concentration ever used in a long-term carcinogenicity of this gas, it is likely that lower exposure levels would also cause cancers in laboratory animals. In addition, multiple organ site neoplasia was induced in mice after only 13 weeks of exposure. Two reactive epoxides, 1,2-epoxy-3-butene and diepoxybutane, have been identified as intermediates in the biotransformation of 1,3-butadiene in rats and mice. Metabolism is probably an important factor in the carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene, because in vitro mutagenicity of 1,3-butadiene requires metabolic activation, whereas these epoxide intermediates are direct acting mutagens in bacteria and are carcinogens in rats and mice. The metabolism of 1,3-butadiene in rats and mice is linear up to concentrations of at least 1000 ppm. Pharmacokinetic studies on 1,3-butadiene and on 1,2-epoxy-3-butene have revealed certain quantitative differences in metabolic rates between Sprague-Dawley rats and B6C3F1 mice; however, these differences were not of sufficient magnitude to account for the reported different target site carcinogenic responses in these two strains of animals. Thus, additional factors must be involved in distinguishing site specificity in the carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene between species. In addition to its carcinogenic effects, 1,3-butadiene is a potent in vivo genotoxic agent to mouse bone marrow cells. Hematologic changes indicative of a partially regenerative anemia were induced in mice at 62.5 and higher concentrations. 1,3-Butadiene is also a reproductive and developmental toxicant. Epidemiology studies of workers employed in the production of 1,3-butadiene or of styrene-butadiene rubber have consistently revealed associations between occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene and excess mortality due to lymphatic and hematopoietic cancers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)