Embryotoxic effects of eight organic peroxides and hydrogen peroxide on three-day chicken embryos

Nine peroxides were tested for embryotoxicity in 3-day chicken embryos using the air-chamber method. The potencies were expressed by the ED50 for the total embryotoxic effect of the chemicals, including deaths and malformations, up to Day 14 of the incubation. The range of the ED50's was from 0.13 to 2.7 mumoles per egg and the order of the potencies was as follows: cyclohexanoneperoxide greater than cumolhydroperoxide greater than ethylmethylketoneperoxide greater than dibenzoylperoxide greater than acetylacetoneperoxide greater than perbenzoic acid-tert-butylester greater than dicumylperoxide greater than dilauroylperoxide greater than hydrogen peroxide. All nine peroxides caused malformations at a moderate frequency. The maximum percentage of malformed embryos of the treated varied from the 16% of perbenzoic acid-tert-butylester to the 56% of dicumylperoxide. The high percentage caused by the latter could, however, result from slow diffusion of high lethal doses from the air chamber to the embryo.