On the acute hepatotoxicity of inhaled vinyl chloride.

Acute toxicity of vinyl chloride exposure was studied by morphological methods in three species (mouse, rat, and rabbit). In rats and rabbits exposure to 1500 ppm of vinyl chloride for 24 hours did not cause pathological changes. In mice shorter inhalation (4 and 8 hours) resulted in circulatory changes, while longer exposure (12 and 24 hours) caused vasomotor paralysis followed by characteristic shock; subsequent alterations could be seen in the liver and lungs. The acute hepatotoxicity of vinyl chloride could not be proved.