Rat fetal development and maternal exposure to trichloroethylene 100 p.p.m.

Thirty-two inbred Wistar rats (study group) were exposed to trichloroethylene 100 p.p.m. in air for 4 h daily from day 8 to day 21 of pregnancy. A control group (31 rats) was exposed to the same experimental conditions but without the addition of trichloroethylene. All the rats were sacrificed on the 21st day of pregnancy and the ovaries, uterus, liver, lungs, heart and the fetuses were examined. There was no evidence of teratogenesis, but a delay in fetal maturation was suggested by reduced fetal weight (P less than 0.05) and by an increase in bipartite or absent skeletal ossification centres (P less than 0.005).