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. 2022 Sep;37(3):e2022018-0.
doi: 10.5620/eaht.2022018. Epub 2022 Jul 12.

Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening test of new TiO2 GST in Sprague-Dawley rats

Hyung Seon Baek  1 , Myeong Kyu Park  1 , Hye Min Kim  1 , Jae Min Im  1 , Heung Sik Seo  1 , Hee Ju Park  2 , Sung Soon Nah  3
Affiliations

Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening test of new TiO2 GST in Sprague-Dawley rats

Hyung Seon Baek et al. Environ Anal Health Toxicol. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

TiO2 nanoparticles are widely used in paints, plastics, cosmetics, printing ink, rubber, food products, pharmaceuticals and other products (photocatalyst, etc.). However, there is little toxicological information during reproduction and developmental period. This study was performed to obtain safety data for new TiO2 powder, GST (Green Sludge Titanium) produced through sludge recycling of the sewage treatment plant for Reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in according to the OECD test guideline (TG 421). Based on the results of the dose-range finding study (14-day repeated toxicity), GST was orally administered to rats at doses of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg B.W/day. Males were dosed for 35 days beginning 14 days before mating, and females for a maximum of 53 days beginning 14 days before mating to day 13 of lactation, including throughout the mating, gestation and lactation periods. In the reproductive and developmental examinations, there were no marked toxicities in terms of general clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, organ weights, macroscopic / microscopic findings, stages of spermatogenesis in the testis, reproductive finding (estrous cycle, copulation-fertility-gestation index), developmental finding (number of corpora lutea and implantations, pups parameters including live birth and viability index). The NOAEL for reproductive/developmental screening toxicity was concluded to be 2000 mg/kg/day under the present study conditions.

Keywords: GST; NOAEL; TiO2; reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Characterization of TiO2 particles (GST) analyzed by Korea TECH: (a) negative zeta potential (−35.4 mV, 30 mg/mL); (b) size distribution by intensity (mean: 336.8 nm).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Characterization of TiO2 particles (GST): SEM (scanning electron microscope) image analyzed by KRICT.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Characterization of TiO2 particles (GST); (a) A particles dispersed in 99.9% EtOH was deposited on a copper grid and analyzed using TEM (Transmission electron microscope) image by Korea Basic Science Institute, (b) Size distribution (95.8±46.3 nm, 46–270 nm,) of the imaged GST(image J software).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Compound-colored stool at treatment group (①: control group, ②: low dose, ③: middle dose, ④: high dose).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Changes for body weight and food consumptions for treatment period except mating period (PM; post-mating, M; mating, GD; gestation days, PND; postnatal day): (a) body weight (male); (b) Body weight (female); (c) Food consumptions (male); (d) food consumptions (female).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Histopathological examination for stages of spermatogenesis of testis: (a) Control group; (b) High dose group.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Histopathological examination of reproductive organ (Left: control group, Right: high dose group): (a) Testis; (b) Epididymis; (c) Ovary; (d) Uterus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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