Forestomach lesions induced by butylated hydroxyanisole and ethylene dibromide: a scientific and regulatory perspective

Selected pathology lesions from 9 studies, 5 with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 4 with ethylene dibromide (EDB) are reviewed and their relative importance in regulatory evaluation is discussed. When Fischer 344 (F344) rats were fed BHA at 0.5% and 2.0% of the diet for 2 years, an increased number of rats of both sexes had epithelial hyperplasia of the forestomach at both treatment levels, compared to controls. At the 2.0% level, an increased number of rats had forestomach papilloma or forestomach squamous cell carcinoma. In a second study, in which F344 rats were fed BHA at 1.0% and 2.0% of the diet for 2 years, increased numbers of rats in both treatment groups were reported to have hyperplasia or papilloma of the forestomach. At the 2.0% level, increased numbers of rats developed squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach. More Syrian golden hamsters fed BHA at 1.0% and 2.0% of the diet for 2 years reportedly had hyperplasia, papilloma or squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach than did nontreated animals. Ingestion of BHA at 0.5% and 1.0% of the diet by B6C3F1 mice for 2 years was reported to produce an increase of animals with hyperplasia or papilloma of the forestomach at both dosage levels, compared to nontreated mice. When beagle dogs were fed BHA at 1.0% and 1.3% of the diet for 180 days, no lesions/tumors of the distal esophagus or stomach were identified at gross necropsy or by light or electron microscopy. When EDB was administered by gavage to Osborne-Mendel rats and B6C3F1 mice under conditions of the National Toxicology Bioassay Program, more rats and mice, both male and female, developed squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach than did nontreated groups. EDB administered via inhalation to F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice did not cause squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach; however, other neoplasms occurred which were considered to be treatment-related. Information gleaned from the BHA and EDB studies with multiple animal species facilitated regulatory decision-making regarding the potential toxicity/carcinogenicity of these compounds to man.