Carcinogenicity of Glycidol in F344 Rats and B6C3F sub(1) Mice

The aliphatic epoxide, glycidol, is used in pharmaceutical and vinyl polymer synthesis, as a lubricant and hydraulic fluid additive, and as an epoxy resin diluent. Mice and rats that were dosed with various concentrations of glycidol for two years had lower than expected survival, and higher than normal numbers of a variety of neoplasms. Mesothelioma was a major cause of death in male rats. Neoplasms of the mammary gland caused early death of female rats and mice. Male mice had excess forestomach neoplasms, and both sexes of mice had increased numbers of harderian gland neoplasms.