Oncogenicity studies of piperonyl butoxide in rats and mice.

1. The oncogenicity of Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) has been studied in the mouse and rat. CD-1 mice were administered PBO in the diet at target doses of 0, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day for 79 weeks and Sprague-Dawley rats 0, 30, 100 and 500 mg/kg/day for 104/105 weeks. 2. At termination of the study in the mouse there was evidence of increased liver weights and an increased incidence of eosinophilic adenomas at 100 and 300 mg/kg/day in males and 300 mg/kg/day in females. 3. In rats there was increased liver weights at 100 and 500 mg/kg/day associated with hepatocyte hypertrophy in both male and female rats. There was no increased incidence of neoplasia at any site. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of thyroid follicles was observed at 500 mg/kg/day in both sexes. 4. The observations reflect the expected changes related to the induction of the mixed function oxygenase group of enzymes. In the mouse the increased incidence of eosinophilic adenomas is not considered relevant for human risk evaluation.