Teratogenic evaluation of ethylene chlorhydrin (ECh, 2-chlorethanol) in mice

ECh administered intragastrically to pregnant CD-1 mice from the 6th to the 16th day of gestation at a dose of 100 mg/kg produced a significant reduction in maternal weight gain and a decrease in fetal body weight and liver weight. A lower dose of 50 mg/kg had no consistent effect and a higher dose of 150 mg/kg was maternally lethal. Administration of ECh in the drinking water at doses of 16, 43, 77, or 227 mg/kg did not produce any adverse effects on maternal or fetal body weight, viability, or fetal anatomical development.