1,1'-(methylenedi-p-phenylene)bismaleimide

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

10 May 2012 - 28 September 2012

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2012

Report date:

2012

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 436 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity: Acute Toxic Class Method)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Remarks:

d.d. 12/12/11

Test type:

acute toxic class method

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

1,1'-(methylenedi-p-phenylene)bismaleimide

EC Number:

237-163-4

EC Name:

1,1'-(methylenedi-p-phenylene)bismaleimide

Cas Number:

13676-54-5

Molecular formula:

C21H14N2O4

IUPAC Name:

1-(4-{[4-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]methyl}phenyl)-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione

Test material form:

solid: particulate/powder

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): BMI, N,N'-Diphenylmethane bismaleimide, 4,4'-Dimaleimidodiphenylmethane, 1,1'-(methylene di-p-phenylene)bismaleimide
- Substance type: Organic
- Physical state: Solid (light yellow or brown powder)
- Analytical purity:94.2%
- Purity test date: 29th Feb 2012 (CoA)
- Lot/batch No.: 1K72J
- Expiration date of the lot/batch: 30 November 2014
- Storage condition of test material: Room temperature (ca 20°C)

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

other: Crl:CD (SD)

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Age at study initiation: 8 to 10 weeks
- Weight at study initiation: 326 to 376 g (Males) or 215 to 257 g (Females)
- Housing: Polycarbonate cages with stainless steel mesh lids.
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): Free access to diet whilst in home cage.
- Water (e.g. ad libitum): Free access to potable water.
- Acclimation period: 7 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 19 to 23°C
- Humidity (%): 40 to 70%
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 hours / 12 hours.

IN-LIFE DATES: From: 14 May 2012 To: 31 July 2012

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: dust

Type of inhalation exposure:

nose only

Vehicle:

air

Details on inhalation exposure:

GENERATION OF TEST ATMOSPHERE / CHAMBER DESCRIPTION
- Exposure apparatus: Snout-only inhalation chamber
- Exposure chamber volume: Approximately 30 litres; a chamber liner was added filling 9.9 liters, giving a final volume of 20.1 liters.
- Method of holding animals in test chamber: Restraining tubes
- Source and rate of air: Compressed air, 25 litres/minute
- Method of conditioning air: Filtered and dried
- System of generating particulates/aerosols: Wright Dust Feed (WDF)
- Method of particle size determination: Atmosphere samples from chamber were drawn through a Cascade Impactor using a pump.
- Treatment of exhaust air: Extraction system incorporated a filtration system to remove particulate material.
- Temperature, humidity, pressure in air chamber: Mean temperature = 23.8°C (group 1), 22.6°C (group 2), 22.6°C (group 3). Mean relative humitidy = 48.3% (group 1), 16.6% (group 2), 9.7% (group 3).

TEST ATMOSPHERE
- Brief description of analytical method used: Gravimetric analysis of glass fibre filters over which a known volume of the test atmosphere was drawn. Mean of five measurements during exposure period was used.
- Samples taken from breathing zone: yes

TEST ATMOSPHERE (if not tabulated)
- MMAD (Mass median aerodynamic diameter) / GSD (Geometric st. dev.):
Group 1 (average achieved chamber concentration = 2.02 mg/L): Mean MMAD = 4.0µm; GSD = 2.33
Group 2 (average achieved chamber concentration = 1.09 mg/L): Mean MMAD = 3.8µm; GSD = 2.53
Group 3 (average achieved chamber concentration = 0.515 mg/L): Mean MMAD = 3.5µm; GSD = 2.27

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

yes

Remarks:

See details above

Duration of exposure:

4 h

Concentrations:

Group 1: Target concentration = 2 mg/L; Average achieved chamber concentration = 2.02 mg/L
Group 2: Target concentration = 1 mg/L; Average achieved chamber concentration = 1.09 mg/L
Group 3: Target concentration = 0.5 mg/L; Average achieved chamber concentration = 0.515 mg/L

No. of animals per sex per dose:

3 males and 3 females

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Frequency of observations and weighing: Observations taken at least twice daily. Bodyweights recorded during acclimatisation, on day 1 prior to dosing, and on days 2,4,8, and 15.
- Necropsy of survivors performed: yes
- Other examinations performed: clinical signs, body weight, macroscopic pathology

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Key result

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

> 0.515 - < 1 mg/L air (analytical)

Based on:

test mat.

Exp. duration:

4 h

Mortality:

2 males and 2 females died at 2.02 mg/L.
3 males and 1 female died at 1.09 mg/L.
2 males died at 0.515 mg/L.

Clinical signs:

other: At 2.02 mg/L two males died on the day of the exposure, clinically they were observed to have deep or noisy breathing; in addition one male was noted as having reduced activity with a hunched posture and closed eyelids. There were also two decedent female

Body weight:

Bodyweight losses were observed in the surviving males from Groups 1 and 3 up until Day 4, after which growth was observed until Day 15.

Bodyweight losses were observed in all surviving females on the day following the exposure; recovery was evident by the next weighing occasion after which growth continued until Day 15.

In all decedent animals the terminal bodyweights were lower than the weights recorded prior to the start of the exposure.

Gross pathology:

The macroscopic examinations performed revealed a number of findings in the lungs. These comprised dark discoloration, incomplete collapse, firmness, adhesions and some pale areas in animals treated with 2.02 or 1.09 mg/L, many of which were found dead. Associated findings such as fluid in the thorax and gaseous distension of the gastrointestinal tract were also seen in some animals at these exposure levels.

A few pale areas in the lungs were observed in the four terminal animals treated with 0.515 mg/L. Enlargement of the tracheobronchial lymph nodes was also noted in these animals. The two decedent animals at 0.515 mg/L showed dark discoloration, incomplete collapse and firmness of the lungs consistent with the findings observed in the other groups.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

other: Category 3

Remarks:

according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of this study the LC50 (4-hour) of BMI is in excess of 0.515 mg/L but not exceeding 1 mg/L for male and female rats.

Executive summary:

An acute inhalation toxicity was performed according to internationally accepted guidelines and in accordance with GLP principles. Group 1 animals were exposed to BMI at a target concentration of 2 mg/L for a period of 4 hours. Due to a high mortality rate (4/6 animals), Group 2 animals were exposed to BMI at a target concentration of 1 mg/L. Following a high mortality rate (4/6 animals), Group 3 animals were exposed to BMI at a target concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. At this exposure level the mortality rate was 2/6 animals and effects observed in surviving animals included pale areas in the lungs and enlargement of the tracheobronchial lymph nodes. The LC50 (4 -hour) of BMI was found to be in excess of 0.515 mg/L but not exceeding 1 mg/L for male and female rats.