Developmental toxicity of ethylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate (EGPEA) in the rat

Abstract

Pregnant rats were exposed by inhalation to vapor concentrations of 100, 200, 400 or 800 ppm of ethylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate on days 6 through 15 of gestation. Concentrations of 400 and 800 ppm reduced the feed intake, mean body weight and red blood cell counts. Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were increased. Clinical signs of toxicity included lethargy and red discolored urine in the dams exposed to 400 or 800 ppm. The incidence of resorptions was significantly increased and the mean fetal body weight was reduced in litters of dams exposed to 800 ppm. Reproductive indices were not affected. Examinations at cesarean section revealed no major external malformations. Internal soft tissue examinations revealed three fetuses with a cardiovascular defect consisting of a right-sided aortic arch. Two of these fetuses were from dams exposed to 800 ppm, while the third was from a control litter. Skeletal examinations revealed no major skeletal malformations, while minor rib anomalies were slightly increased in litters from dams exposed to 400 or 800 ppm of ethylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate. The incidence of common skeletal variants was slightly increased at 200 ppm.