A 2-GENERATION REPRODUCTION STUDY IN RATS RECEIVING DRINKING-WATER CONTAINING VINYL-ACETATE

Vinyl acetate (VA) is a commonly used chemical in polymerization and c opolymerization processes and as a chemical intermediate. As part of a collaborative effort between VA producers of the United States and Br itish Petroleum, the present study was carried out to provide a base s et of data for risk assessment. Groups of male and female Crl:CD(SD)BR rats were given O, 200, 1000, or 5000 ppm VA via the drinking water o ver two generations. In addition, a cross-mating trial of control and 5000-ppm male and female rats was conducted in the F-1 generation to i nvestigate the slightly decreased litter production in the high-dose g roup. No treatment-related mortality was observed in any of the groups . Water consumption was significantly reduced in the 5000-ppm groups i n both generations and in the 1000-ppm F-1 female rats, The body weigh ts of the F-0 and F-1 male rats and the F-1 female rats in the 5000-pp m group tended to be slightly lower than those of the control group. B ody weight gain was significantly decreased during lactation in the F- 0 females at 5000 ppm and in the F-1 females at 1000 and 5000 ppm. Pup weights in the F-1 generation, but not in the F-2 generation, were si gnificantly lower than those of the control on lactation Day 21. The n umber of litters produced in the F-1 generation in the 5000-ppm group was slightly lower than that of the control group and was attributed t o lower fertility. Fewer pups were produced when control females were mated with the 5000-ppm males; however, the decrease was due to poor m ating performance rather than decreased fertility. No decrease was app arent when the 5000-ppm females were mated with the control group male s. Under the conditions of this study, the no-observed adverse effort level was considered to be 1000 ppm. (C) 1995 Society of Toxicology.