CARCINOGENICITY STUDY OF 1-BIS(TERT-BUTYLPEROXY)-3,3,5-TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEXANE IN B6C3F(1) MICE

1,1 -Bis(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane (BBTC) is widely used in the manufacture of rubber. The present carcinogenicity study in B6C3F(1) mice was carried out in order to assess its potential to i nduce tumours. BBTC was administered at dietary levels of 0 (control), 0.25 and 0.5% for 78 wk; these dose levels were selected on the basis of a subchronic toxicity study, in which body weights were depressed to less than 90% of the control group values and swelling of hepatocyt es was histologically evident in animals fed 1% BBTC or more in the di et. Neoplasms were found in all groups, including the control group, b ut there were no significant differences between groups of either sex in mortality, tumour incidences or tumour distribution. All tumours we re considered to be spontaneous because of the similarity to backgroun d data for B6C3F(1) mice. This study thus provides no evidence of carc inogenicity of BBTC in B6C3F(1) mice.