Subchronic toxicity studies of 3-Methyl-1- butanol and 2-Methyl-1-propanol in rats

1 90-day subchronic toxicity studies with 3-methyl-1- butanol (MEB) and 2-methyl-1-propanol (MEP) were performed on rats to evaluate the toxicological profile of the compounds under conditions of drinking water studies, to identify the potential target organs, and to determine no-observable-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs) respective of the substances. The test substances were administered to groups of 10 male and 10 female Wistar rats in drinking water at concentrations of 0, 1000 p.p.m. (about 80 mg/kg/d), 4000 p.p.m. (about 340 mg/kg/d) and 16 000 p.p.m. (about 1250 and 1450 mg/kg/d of MEB and MEP respectively).2 16 000 p.p.m. was found to be the maximal concentra tion for both alcohols applicable to rats in drinking water. Higher concentrations had an influence on palatability and could thus not be tested in drinking water studies.3 At 16 000 p.p.m. MEB a marginal increase in the red blood cell count as well as a slight decrease in the mean corpuscular volume and the mean corpuscular hemo globin content...