An investigation of the in vivo formation of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The in vivo formation of dioxins from chemical precursors was investigated in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed pentachlorophenol or a predioxin in p eanut oil for 14 days. Mass balance calculations indicated that pentachloro phenol was not converted to dioxins; however, the predioxin, nonachloro-2-p henoxyphenol, was converted to OCDD. Conversion of the predioxin ranged fro m 0.5% to 153% and depended on the amount of predioxin and OCDD present in the diet. The analytical procedures used for sample preparation did not app ear to cause conversion of the predioxin to OCDD. The mechanism for biologi cal conversion may be enzymatic or spontaneous. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.