Toxicity of vinylidene chloride in mice and rats and its alterations by various treatments.

The toxicity of vinylidene chloride (VDC) was studied in mice and rats exposed to various concentrations of the vapors for 23 hr/day. In addition, the ability of various compounds to alter parameters of toxicity was evaluated. Mice were more sensitive than rats to the lethal, hepatotoxic, and renal toxic effects of VDC. Disulfiram protected mice from these toxic effects of inhaled VDC and reduced the levels of covalently bound radioactivity in the liver and kidney after the ip administration of [14C] VDC. Diethyldithiocarbamate and thiram also protected mice from the acute lethal effects of VDC.