You are here:
The Four Lab Study: Assessment of Reproductive Toxicity of Drinking Water Concentrates in a Multi-Generational Rat Bioassay and Human Placental Cell Cultures
Citation:
NAROTSKY, M. G., E. S. HUNTER, J. G. PRESSMAN, R. J. MILTNER, T. F. SPETH, S. D. RICHARDSON, L. K. TEUSCHLER, G. E. RICE, G. R. KLINEFELTER, J. M. GOLDMAN, L. F. STRADER, R. W. LUEBKE, V. C. MOSER, J. Chen, G. C. Douglas, B. L. LASLEY, AND J. E. SIMMONS. The Four Lab Study: Assessment of Reproductive Toxicity of Drinking Water Concentrates in a Multi-Generational Rat Bioassay and Human Placental Cell Cultures. Presented at OW/ORD Seminar Series, Washington, DC, May 13, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform public
Description:
To address concerns raised by epidemiological studies, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from four ORD laboratories (NHEERL, NRMRL, NERL, NCEA) conducted a multigenerational reproductive toxicity study in rats using a “whole” mixture of drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs). Raw water was concentrated 136 fold, chlorinated, and provided as drinking water to Sprague-Dawley rats; controls received purified water. Timed-pregnant females (P0 generation) were exposed during gestation and lactation, until weaning their litters (F1 generation). F1 animals were maintained in their respective treatment groups and bred to produce an F2 generation. In order to enhance statistical power for detecting potential effects on prenatal loss and pup weight, a second replicate of the study was conducted through postnatal day 6 of the F1 generation. Thorough examination of potential effects included evaluations of pregnancy rate, gestation length, pup growth and viability, anogenital distance, onset of puberty, hormone levels, estrous cycles, and fertility. Immunological and neurobehavioral endpoints were also evaluated. Noteworthy findings