Teratogenic evaluation of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBPA) in New Zealand white rabbits following dermal exposure.

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBPA) was tested for its potential to cause embryo/fetal toxicity and teratogenicity in pregnant rabbits. DGEBPA was applied daily to the clipped skin of New Zealand White rabbits for approximately 6 hr/day at dose levels of 0 (polyethylene glycol 400, vehicle control), 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg body weight/day on Days 6 through 18 of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal alterations on Day 28 of gestation. Maternal toxicity was observed among pregnant rabbits in the 300 mg/kg/day dose group as evidenced by moderate to severe erythema, fissures, hemorrhage, and slight edema at the exposure site. Similar, but less severe skin lesions were observed in pregnant rabbits in the 100 mg/kg/day exposure group. A slight erythema at the site of application was observed in dams in the 30 mg/kg/day dose group. The erythema in rabbits from the low dose group was indistinguishable from the erythema caused by the occlusive bandages/jackets used to hold the test material in place and, thus, was not considered toxicologically significant. No evidence of embryo/fetal toxicity or teratogenicity was observed at any dose level. Thus, the embryo/fetal no-observed-effect level for dermally applied DGEBPA was 300 mg/kg body weight/day, the maximum tolerated dose.