TOXICITY OF DIETHANOLAMINE .1. DRINKING-WATER AND TOPICAL APPLICATIONEXPOSURES IN F344 RATS

Toxicology studies of diethanolamine were conducted in male and female F344 rats for 13 weeks' duration to characterize and compare effects of exposure in the drinking water with those caused by topical applica tion. Doses of diethanolamine ranged from 160 to 5000 ppm in the drink ing water study (equivalent to daily doses of 25-440 mg kg(-1) in male s and 15-240 mg kg(-1) in females) and from 32 to 500 mg kg(-1) in the topical application study. Dose-dependent toxic effects due to exposu re to diethanolamine included hematological changes (a poorly regenera tive, microcytic anemia), as well as toxic responses in the kidney (in creased weight, tubular necrosis, decreased renal function, and/or tub ular mineralization), brain and spinal cord (demyelination), testis (d egeneration of the seminiferous tubules) and skin (site of application : ulceration, inflammation, hyperkeratosis and acanthosis). A no-obser ved-adverse-effect level was not achieved for hematological changes, n ephropathy or hyperkeratosis of the skin. Differences in dose-response between the drinking water and topical application exposures were att ributed largely to the limited dermal absorption of this chemical.