The role of respiration in vinyl chloride monomer excretion in rats.

1, 5 and 10 mg/kg vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in aqueous solution were injected i.v. into male rats with cannulated tracheas. Respiratory activity was regulated to permit investigation of the effect of modifying pulmonary ventilation on VCM excretion in blood and expired air assayed at different intervals for VCM. VCM excretion rate was found to be directly proportionate to pulmonary ventilation. When respiration was stopped for 1 min after VCM injection, there was no decrease in blood BCM, the main route of elimination of i.v. injected VCM thus being pulmonary.