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Animal toxicity studies with ammonium perfluorooctanoate
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|August 1, 1980
Summary
Ammonium perfluorooctanoate showed moderate toxicity in animal studies, primarily affecting the liver in rodents and the gastrointestinal tract in monkeys. Further toxicological evaluations are ongoing for this commercial surfactant.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
- Chemical Safety
Background:
- Ammonium perfluorooctanoate is a widely used commercial surfactant.
- Understanding its toxicological profile is crucial for risk assessment and regulatory purposes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential toxicity of ammonium perfluorooctanoate.
- To assess acute and subchronic effects across different animal models.
- To determine mutagenicity in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Acute and subchronic oral feeding studies in rabbits, mice, rats, and monkeys.
- In vitro mutagenicity assays using Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Dermal and ocular irritation tests in rabbits.
Main Results:
- Non-irritating to skin, moderately irritating to eyes in rabbits.
- Rat oral LD50: 540 mg/kg; no mortality from inhalation exposure.
- Negative results in all in vitro mutagenicity assays.
- Liver as target organ in rodents (males > females); gastrointestinal tract and reticuloendothelial system in monkeys.
- Sex-related differences in toxicity observed in rats, not in monkeys.
Conclusions:
- Ammonium perfluorooctanoate exhibits moderate toxicity, with target organs varying by species.
- The compound's surface activity contributes to observed gastrointestinal effects.
- Further toxicological evaluations are necessary to fully characterize risks.