Inhalation exposure to chloramine T induces DNA damage and inflammation in lung of Sprague-Dawley rats

J Toxicol Sci. 2013;38(6):937-46. doi: 10.2131/jts.38.937.

Abstract

Chloramine T has been widely used as a disinfectant in many areas such as kitchens, laboratories and hospitals. It has been also used as a biocide in air fresheners and deodorants which are consumer products; however, little is known about its toxic effects by inhalation route. This study was performed to identify the subacute inhalation toxicity of chloramine T under whole-body inhalation exposure conditions. Male and female groups of rats were exposed to chloramine T at concentrations of 0.2, 0.9 and 4.0 mg/m³ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week during 4 weeks. After 28-day repeated inhalation of chloramine T, there were dose-dependently significant DNA damage in the rat tissues evaluated and inflammation was histopathologically noted around the terminal airways of the lung in both genders. As a result of the expression of three types of antioxidant enzymes (SOD-2, GPx-1, PRX-1) in rat's lung after exposure, there was no significant change of all antioxidant enzymes in the male and female rats. The results showed that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 0.2 mg/m³ in male rats and 0.9 mg/m³ in female rats under the present experimental condition.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Chloramines / administration & dosage
  • Chloramines / adverse effects
  • Chloramines / toxicity*
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • Disinfectants / administration & dosage
  • Disinfectants / adverse effects
  • Disinfectants / toxicity*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Inhalation Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Lung / enzymology
  • Male
  • No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced*
  • Pneumonia / enzymology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tosyl Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Tosyl Compounds / adverse effects
  • Tosyl Compounds / toxicity*

Substances

  • Chloramines
  • Disinfectants
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Prrx1 protein, mouse
  • Tosyl Compounds
  • chloramine-T
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • superoxide dismutase 2
  • Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
  • Gpx1 protein, rat