Chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity study of propylene oxide in Wistar rats.

Four groups of 100 Wistar rats of each sex were exposed by inhalation to 0, 30, 100 or 300 ppm propylene oxide for 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 28 months. After 12, 18 and 24 months ten rats/sex/group were killed to provide interim haematological, biochemical and urinary data. Mortality was increased by wk 115 in both sexes in the 300-ppm group and by wk 119 in females of the 100-ppm group. Body weights were lower than those of the controls throughout the study in males of the 300-ppm group and in females of the 300-ppm group during the first year of the study. Increased incidences of degenerative and hyperplastic changes of the nasal mucosa were observed in all exposed groups. Exposure to 300 ppm propylene oxide was associated with an increased incidence of both benign and malignant mammary tumours in females. There was no increase in the incidence of any particular type of tumour other than mammary tumours. The total number of rats bearing malignant tumours at sites other than the mammary glands was increased in both sexes in the 300-ppm group compared with the controls.