Evaluation of the Acute Toxicity of Selected Groundwater Contaminants

Acute dermal and inhalation toxicology studies were conducted on several selected groundwater contaminants to provide additional data for hazard evaluations by Air Force personnel. Four of the compounds; Tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane, Chlorobenzene, and 1,1-Dichloroethylene were tested for acute dermal toxicity; 2,3-Dimethylphenol and 1,1-Dichloroethane were tested for acute 4-hour inhalation toxicity. Rabbits dermally treated with an upper limit dose of 2 ml/kg did not demonstrate symptoms of toxicity. Saturated vapors of 2, 3-Dimethylphenol did not result in mortality among exposed rats after 4 hours. However, 4-hour inhalation exposures to 1,1-Dichloroethane predicted an LC50 of approximately 13,000 ppm when using male rats. Keywords: Lethal concentration; Toxins.