Reproductive Effects of Alternative Disinfectants

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Brogan & Partners are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Environmental Health Perspectives.Organohalides formed through the reaction of chlorine and organic compounds in natural and waste waters pose potential health hazards. For this reason, alternative water disinfectants that do not form organohalides are being investigated with great interest. Limited data are available on the health effects, in particular reproductive toxicity effects, of these compounds.In our laboratory, we have examined the reproductive effects of chloramine and chlorine administered by gavage in Long-Evans rats. Animals were treated for a total of 66 to 76 days. Males were treated for 56 days and females for 14 days prior to breeding and throughout the 10-day breeding period. Females were treated throughout gestation and lactation. Following breeding, the males were necropsied and evaluated for sperm parameters and reproductive tract histopathology. Adult females and some pups were necropsied at weaning on postnatal day 21. Other pups were treated postweaning until 28 or 40 days of age. These pups were evaluated for the day of vaginal patency and thyroid hormone levels.No differences were observed between control rats and those rats exposed to up to 5 mg/kg/day chlorine or 10 mg/kg/day chloramine when fertility, viability, litter size, day of eye opening, or day of vaginal patency were evaluated. No alterations in sperm count, sperm direct progressive movement (jim/sec), percent motility, or sperm morphology were observed among adult male rats. In addition, male and female reproductive organ weights were comparable to their respective control groups, and no significant his? topathologic changes were observed among chlorine-or chloramine-treated male and female rats.

Adrenal gland involvement in the regulation of renal 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2

“…Acidosis was achieved by gavage (oropharyngeal gastric intubation), with an overload of 10 ml of 200 mM HCl, 2 h prior to removal of the kidneys. This is a standard procedure used by the National Toxicology Program and the Environmental Protection Agency (see official websites) in chronic treatment of test animals for carcinogens, and by other groups to test ascorbate [Chen et al, 2000], chlorine [Meier et al, 1985; Carlton et al, 1986], and chloramines [Carlton et al, 1986]. This treatment resulted in a metabolic acidosis within 2 h (acute acidosis), as confirmed by blood parameters determination using a MiniQ acid/base analyzer.…”

Inorganic chloramines: a critical review of the toxicological and epidemiological evidence as a basis for occupational exposure limit setting

“…After administration of 1.6-8 mg/kg bw/day of monochloramine by oral gavage for 5 consecutive days to mice, no sperm-head abnormalities were observed 1, 3 and 5 weeks after the last dose (Meier et al 1985). No histological changes or effects on reproductive organs were noted in male and female rats administered monochloramine (2.5-10 mg/kg bw/day) by oral gavage for up to 73 d. Sperm quality and fetuses were unaffected (Carlton et al 1986). Neither were any effects on fetuses shown after exposure of Virgin rats to monochloramine via drinking water (0.09-9.3 mg/kg bw/day) 2.5 months prior to and throughout gestation (Abdel-Rahman et al 1982).…”

“…No alterations in sperm count, sperm direct progressive movement, percent motility or sperm morphology were observed among adult males. In addition, male and female reproductive organ weights were comparable to their respective control groups, and no significant histopathological changes were observed in the reproductive tract of exposed males and females (Carlton et al 1986). Meier et al (1985) administered B6C3F1 mice (10 males/ group) 1.6, 4 or 8 mg/kg bw of monochloramine by oral gavage for 5 consecutive days and evaluated sperm-head abnormality at 1, 3 and 5 weeks after the last dose.…”

“…Oral (drinking water), 13 weeks Rat, Sprague Dawley 10 males/group Reduced body weight gain and minor biochemical, hematological, immunological and histopathological changes were largely related to reduced water and food consumption and not directly caused by monochloramine Poon et al (1997) 14 Carlton et al (1986) 0, 1, 10, 100 mg/l (0.09, 0.9, 9.3 mg/kg bw/day) † Oral (drinking water, ad libitum), 2.5 months prior to and throughout gestation.…”