Long-term toxicity of diethyl carbonate in mice

Groups of 48 male and 50 female mice were given drinking-water containing 0, 50, 250 or 1000 ppm diethyl carbonate for 83 weeks. There was no effect on mortality, rate of body-weight gain or the incidence of histopathological findings, including tumors. There were isolated differences between treated and control mice in the findings of the haematological examinations and in the liver weights of female mice but these were not considered to be related treatment. It is concluded that no carcinogenic effect could be detected and that the no-untoward-effect level is 1000 ppm (approx. 140 mg/kg/day).