Relative developmental toxicities of acrylates in rats following inhalation exposure

The developmental toxicities of seven acrylates were studied in Sprague-Daw ley rats after inhalation exposure for 6 h/day, during days 6 to 20 of gest ation. The exposure concentrations sere: for acrylic acid, 50, 100, 200, or 300 ppm; for methyl acrylate, 25, 50, or 100 ppm; for ethyl acrylate, 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm; for butyl acrylate, 100, 200, or 300 ppm; for ethylhex yl acrylate, 50, 75, or 100 ppm; for hydroxyethyl acrylate, 1, 5, or 10 ppm ; and for hydroxypropyl acrylate, 1, 5, or 10 ppm. No treatment-related inc reases in embryo/fetal mortality or fetal malformations were observed after exposure to any of these acrylates. Fetal toxicity, indicated by reduced f etal body weight, was observed after exposure to 300 ppm acrylic acid, 100 ppm methyl acrylate, 200 ppm ethyl acrylate, and 200 or 300 ppm butyl acryl ate in the presence of overt signs of maternal toxicity. While there was ev idence of maternal toxicity, no significant developmental toxic effects wer e observed after exposure to ethylhexyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, or hydroxypropyl acrylate at any concentration. These results indicate that i nhaled acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl hexyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, and hydroxypropyl acrylate are not s electively toxic to the embryo or fetus.