m-Cresol - ipcs inchem

OECD SIDS
m- / p-CRESOL
3.1.7 Carcinogenicity
m-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m-cresol.
The promoting ability of m-cresol was investigated in the mouse skin painting model. The treatment
did induce an increase in skin papillomas, but not in carcinomas. The presence of benzene, which
was used as vehicle, did not appear to affect the results, since no papillomas were found in benzene
treated controls (Boutwell and Bosch 1959).
m-Cresol did not induce cell transformations in BALB/c-3T3 cells (Hazleton 1988g,h).
p-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of p-cresol.
The promoting ability of p-cresol was investigated in the mouse skin painting model. The treatment
did induce an increase in skin papillomas, but not in carcinomas. The presence of benzene, which
was used as vehicle, did not appear to affect the results, since no papillomas were found in benzene
treated controls (Boutwell and Bosch 1959).
p-Cresol induced cell transformations in an in vitro cell transformation assay using mouse BALB/c-
3T3 cells without a metabolic activation system (Hazleton 1988g, h).
m/p-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
As for o-cresol, there are no adequate data available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m- or p-
or m/p-cresol mixture. From tumour promotion studies in mice there are some indications that
cresols may act as promoters.
Currently, the U.S. National Cancer Institute is performing a carcinogenicity feeding study on mice
and rats with o/m/p-cresol mixture within the National Toxicological Program (NTP).
3.1.8 Toxicity for Reproduction
m-Cresol
Reproductive toxicity was examined in a two-generation study on Sprague-Dawley rats given 0, 30,
175 or 450 mg/kg bw/day in corn oil by gavage (BRRC 1989).
Effects on reproductive function or on morphology of reproductive tissues were not detected even at
doses producing overt toxicity in adult rats (hypoactivity, ataxia twitches, tremors, prostration urine
stains, audible respiration and perioral wetness). The NOAEL (fertility) was 450 mg/kg bw/day.
The NOAEL toxicity was 30 mg/kg bw/day.
In F1 and F2, litter size, sex ratio, and litter viability was unaffected by treatment. In F1 the female
pups had reduced body weights in the highest dose tested, but pup survival was not affected. In F2,
pup body weight, pup body weight gain and pup lactational index were reduced and pup mortality
was increased at the highest dose. Thus, the NOAEL (developmental effects) was 175 mg/kg
bw/day.
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