Concentration in blood and organs of dogs after high dose 1,1,1-trichloroethane inhalation

Dogs were exposed to 1% (v/v) (10,000 ppm) vapor of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCE) by inhalation for 3 min repeated four times at 4 hr intervals under continuous anesthesia. Changes in the 1,1,1-TCE concentration in blood with time, as well as distribution of 1,1,1-TCE in the organs and tissues (lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and fat around the kidneys and on the abdominal wall) upon completion of the four exposures were studied. Concentrations of 1,1,1-TCE in blood showed the highest level immediately after exposure, and fairly decreased in about 30 min after exposure. The half life of 1,1,1-TCE in blood was 4-12 min after exposure. Upon completion of the exposures (3 min inhalations repeated four times), 1,1,1-TCE concentrations per gram wet weight of each organ ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 microgram/g in the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and brain. On the other hand, the 1,1,1-TCE concentration in fat ranged from 16.9 to 54.6 micrograms/g, greatly exceeding those in other organs.