Carcinogenicity of toxaphene: a review

Abstract

Toxaphene is highly carcinogenic in rats and mice. Toxaphene induced malignant neoplasms of the liver in rats. Neoplasms at all sites, as well as malignant neoplasms, were increased in male and female rats ingesting toxaphene. Sarcomas were found more often in male rats and carcinomas in female rats. Neoplasms of the endocrine organs were also increased in male and female toxaphene-treated rats. The incidence of neoplasms of the reproductive system was increased in female rats, as was the incidence of mammary gland neoplasms in male rats. Toxic changes in male rats given toxaphene included interstitial fibrosis of the kidney and atrophy of the testes. Toxaphene induced malignant neoplasms of the liver in male and female mice. The incidence of malignant neoplasms at all sites was also increased. In addition to hepatic neoplasms, male mice had leukemia or lymphosarcoma and females had sarcomas of the uterus.