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International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

BENZOTRICHLORIDE

VOL.: 29 (1982) (p. 73)

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Experimental data

Benzotrichloride was tested in a series of three studies by skin application to female mice. It produced squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin in all three experiments; upper-digestive-tract tumours were also observed in two of the three experiments. An increase in the incidence of tumours at other sites was reported. In a study reported as an abstract, oral administration of benzotrichloride produced malignant tumours of the forestomach and lung in female mice.

Benzotrichloride was mutagenic to bacteria with metabolic activation, and was positive in a rec-assay with Bacillus subtilis.

No data were available to assess the teratogenicity of this compound to experimental animals.

5.2 Human data

Occupational exposure to benzotrichloride has and probably still does occur during its manufacture and use as an intermediate in the manufacture of benzoyl chloride, dyes, ultra-violet stabilizers and other derivatives.

No data were available to assess the mutagenicity or teratogenicity of this compound to man.

No case report or epidemiological study involving exposure to benzotrichloride alone was available to the Working Group. Six cases of respiratory cancer have been reported among benzoyl chloride production workers in two small plants, who were also potentially exposed to benzotrichloride. The cases occurred in young workers, three of whom were nonsmokers.

5.3 Evaluation

There is sufficient evidence that benzotrichloride is carcinogenic in mice.

Although the epidemiological data were inadequate to evaluate the carcinogenicity of benzotrichloride alone, they provide limited evidence that employment in the production of benzoyl chloride and its chlorinated toluene precursors, which involves exposure to benzotrichloride, represents a carcinogenic risk to man.

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Subsequent evaluation: Vol. 71 (1999)

Last updated: 9 April 1998 






























    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Benzotrichloride (ICSC)