Brain tumors in F344 rats associated with chronic inhalation exposure to ethylene oxide.

Groups of F344 rats of each sex were exposed to either ethylene oxide (ETO) vapor (concentrations of 100, 33 or 10 ppm) or to room air for 6 hours daily, 5 days per week, for up to 2 years. Three representative sections of the brain from each rat were evaluated. Twenty-three primary brain tumors were found, two of which were in control animals. Increased numbers of brain tumors were seen in 100 ppm and 33 ppm ETO exposed male and female rats. Significant trend analyses were found for both males and females, indicating that, under the conditions of this study, ETO exposure above 10 ppm was related to the development of these brain tumors.