Carcinogenicity of butylated hydroxyanisole in F344 rats.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was added at levels of 0.5 and 2.0% to the diet of inbred F344 rats for 2 years. The higher dose of BHA induced a significant increase in the incidence of papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma in both sexes. Both the higher and lower doses increased the incidences of hyperplasia of the forestomach, considered to be associated with neoplasias. The incidences of these neoplastic changes were dose-dependent. Neoplastic changes in other organs were not increased significantly by BHA. These results show that BHA is carcinogenic in the forestomach of F344 rats.