US EPA

625918 

Journal Article 

Toxicological evaluation of acenaphthene and acenaphthylene 

Reshetycek, AL; Talakina, EI; En'yakova, PA 

1970 

Yes 

Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya
ISSN: 0016-9919 

14 

6 

46-47 

Russian 

The relative toxicity of acenaphthene (83329), naphthalene (91203), and acenaphthylene (208968) was studied in rats. Animals received a single intraperitoneal or intratracheal injection of unspecified doses of naphthalene, acenaphthene, or acenaphthylene; survivors were examined after 13 months. Other rats were exposed by inhalation to 100 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) naphthalene, 12mg/m3 acenaphthene, or 18mg/m3 acenaphthylene for 5 months. No significant changes in overall health were noted in the animals given single injections, however all of the test chemicals produced mild irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Inhalation of naphthalene caused greater sensitivity of the lungs and associated organs. Naphthalene also caused a 60 percent increase in oxygen uptake, increased body and skin temperature, 38 percent increase in blood peroxidase activity, and 33 percent decrease in lung ascorbate content. Acenaphthene inhalation caused a 26 percent decrease in lung nucleic acids and 16 percent increase in adrenal gland nucleic acids, while acenaphthylene caused a 12 percent increase in adrenal gland nucleic acids. All of the chemicals induced homotypic lesions of the lung, liver, and central nervous system when administered through the trachea or peritoneum. Pathological effects of inhaled acenaphthene and acenaphthylene included desquamation of alveolar epithelial cells, focal bronchitis, and widespread cell proliferation into the alveolar lumen. The authors conclude that under chronic inhalation conditions, acenaphthene and acenaphthylene exhibit greater toxicity than naphthalene.