NEPHROTOXIC EFFECTS OF THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION MIXTURES OF TYPE-C HYDRAULIC FLUIDS

A survey was conducted to check the toxicological impact of ethylene g lycol present in a thermal decomposition mixture of type C hydraulic f luid on laboratory animals submitted to an inhalation test. The target organs, i.e. kidneys, of exposed rats were evaluated histologically a nd oxalic acid - the ethylene glycol metabolite thought to cause renal failure - was quantified in urine samples. The results show that the low ethylene glycol concentrations present in the inhalation chamber p roduce only a temporarily increased oxalic acid excretion, at levels t hat are not significant. These findings are supported by the histologi cal evaluation of the kidneys showing no calcium oxalate deposits or o ther abnormalities.