The uptake and disposition of 1,1-dichloroethylene in rats during inhalation exposure

The uptake, disposition, and respiratory elimination of 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) during inhalation exposure were evaluated to gain insight into the pharmacodynamics of the halocarbon. Anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats inhaled 25, 75, 150, or 300 ppm 1,1-DCE for 3 hr from an aluminized Mylar bag through a miniaturized one-way breathing valve inserted into the trachea. Periodic air samples were taken immediately adjacent to the valve from the separate inhaled air and exhaled breath streams concurrently with blood samples from a cannulated femoral vein and analyzed for 1,1-DCE content by gas chromatography. 1,1-DCE was absorbed very rapidly, in that substantial levels were present in the venous blood at the first sampling time (i.e., 2 min). Percentage systemic uptake decreased over time after initiation of exposure until equilibrium was established. Percentage uptake after reaching equilibrium varied inversely with the exposure concentration. 1,1-DCE venous whole-blood levels in animals exposed to 25, 75, and 150 ppm 1,1-DCE increased rapidly to near steady state within approximately 45 min, as did concentrations of 1,1-DCE in the exhaled breath and alveolar air. Calculation of the amount of 1,1-DCE taken up by the body over the course of the 3-hr exposures revealed that cumulative uptake of the inhaled chemical was statistically linear for the 25-, 75-, and 150-ppm exposures. Accumulation plots for 300-ppm exposed animals, however, were best fitted to a cubic curve form. Although trends toward the establishment of equilibrium were initially seen in the 300-ppm exposed animals, levels of 1,1-DCE in the blood and breath rose progressively during the latter hour of the 3-hr exposure period. Thus, despite increased exhalation of 1,1-DCE, these animals could not prevent systemic accumulation of the chemical.