ABSTRACT
The embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of sulfur dioxide (SO2) was evaluated in CF-1 and New Zealand rabbits exposed to SO2 alone or in combination with carbon monoxide (CO). The animals inhaled filtered room air (controls), SO2 (mice, 25 ppm; rabbits, 70 ppm), or SO2 plus CO (250 ppm) for 7 hr/day from days 6 through 15 (mice) and from days 6 through 18 (rabbits) of gestation. In both species, inhalation of SO2 resulted in slight toxicity in the dams and an increased incidence of minor skeletal variants among their offspring; exposure to the combination did not potentiate the increased incidence of these variants. A teratogenic effect was not discerned in either mice or rabbits exposed to SO2 alone or in combination with carbon monoxide, but the fetuses of mice exposed to the combination were significantly smaller than those exposed only to SO2.
Subject(s)
Carbon Monoxide/toxicity , Fetus/drug effects , Sulfur Dioxide/toxicity , Abnormalities, Drug-Induced , Administration, Intranasal , Animals , Bone and Bones/abnormalities , Carbon Monoxide/administration & dosage , Drug Interactions , Female , Fetal Growth Retardation/chemically induced , Mice , Pregnancy , Rabbits , Sulfur Dioxide/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The effect of inhaled sulfuric acid (H2SO4) on embryonal and fetal development was assessed in CF-1 mice and in New Zealand white rabbits. Both species were exposed for 7 hr/day to 0, 5, or 20 mg H2SO4/m3 during the period of major organogenesis (mice, days 6 through 15 of gestation; rabbits, days 6 through 18 of gestation). Little evidence of toxicity was seen in the fetuses of mice or rabbits exposed to H2SO4. Slight maternal toxicity was seen at 20 mg H2SO4/m3 in both species. Teratogenicity was not observed in either mice or rabbits exposed to H2SO4.
