DOMINANT LETHAL EFFECTS AFTER INHALATION EXPOSURE TO 1,3-BUTADIENE

Two independent dominant lethal experiments were performed using different protocols with respect to strains of mice, inhalation exposure duration of 1,3-butadiene, and mating regimen. The short communication summarizes the results of the experiments and compares the induced dominant lethality according to the formula published by Ehling in 1978. Despite the differences in methodology the results are in close agreement. The sum of the dominant lethal effects observed during the first three mating weeks after 1 week of butadiene exposure in one experiment (23.1%) is surprisingly similar to the dominant lethal effect observed during 1 week of mating after 10 weeks of butadiene exposure (28.1%) in the other experiment. The results of the two independent experiments strengthen the conclusion that butadiene is a germ cell mutagen. Furthermore, the results indicate that the effect observed after 10 weeks of exposure is representative of the last three treatment weeks, i.e. treated spermatozoa and spermatids.