Liver injury induced by dichloropropanols--changes in the time course on hematological and blood chemical examinations.

The toxicity of dichloropropanols (DCPs) was investigated by hematological and blood chemical examination. Solutions of two isomers of DCPs, 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (DC2P) and 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (DC1P) were dissolved in saline at a concentration of 100 mg/ml and 0.1 ml of each was subcutaneously injected into male Wistar rats weighing about 200 g. Acute changes on transaminases and number of platelets were determined in the time course. 6 hours later, transaminases showed significant increases while the number of platelets significantly decreased in the DC2P-treated group. In the half the of DC2P-treated group, transaminases had increased furthermore at 24 hours, while those in the rest were recovered to the control level. No changes were observed in the DC1P-treated group. These results indicate that there is a prominent hepatotoxicity in DC2P, with the individual diversities to some extent and the hepatic toxicity differs considerably between DC2P and DC1P. Therefore, the monitoring of the working environment and biological monitoring of DCPs should be mandatory, in the workplace where DCPs, especially DC2P, are utilized.