The acute toxicity of nonachloropredioxin and 3‐ and 4‐hydroxynonachlorodiphenyl ether in mice

Abstract
The acute i.p. LD50 values of hydroxynonachlorodiphenyl ethers (HO-Cl9-DPE) in mice were determined. The acute toxicity of each compound was compared with that of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2-hydroxy-2'',4,4''-trichlorodiphenyl ether (2-HO-Cl3-DPE; Irgasan DP-300; Triclosan), a commonly used bactericide. The order of acute toxicity observed was; 2-HO-Cl9-DPE > technical PCP .apprxeq. pure PCP > 3-HO-Cl9-DPE > 4-HO-Cl9-DPE > 2-HO-Cl3-DPE. Symptomatology following exposure to HO-Cl9-DPE was similar to that observed for PCP, a known uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. 2-HO-Cl3-DPE produced clinical signs suggestive of a suppressive effect on the CNS. Data on time response following a lethal dose of each compound was also obtained.