National Toxicology Program

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service

National Toxicology Program (NTP); Availability of Technical Report on Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of t-Butyl Alcohol

The HHS' National Toxicology Program announces the availability of the NTP Technical Report on the toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of t-butyl alcohol. t-Butyl alcohol is widely used in the manufacture of perfumes and a variety of cosmetics.

Toxicology and carcinogenicity studies were conducted by administration of t-butyl alcohol in drinking water to groups of 60 F344/N rats of each sex at doses of 0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5 mg/mL for males and 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/mL for females. Groups of 60 B6C3F1 mice of each sex received t-butyl alcohol in drinking water at doses of 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/mL.

Under the conditions of these 2-year drinking water studies, there was some evidence of carcinogenic activity* of t-butyl alcohol in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of renal tubule adenoma or carcinoma (combined). There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of t-butyl alcohol in female F344/N rats receiving 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/mL. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity in male B6C3F1 mice based on marginally increased incidences of follicular cell adenoma or carcinoma (combined) of the thyroid gland. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of t-butyl alcohol in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid gland.

Questions or comments about the Technical Report should be directed to Central Data Management at P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 or telephone (919) 541-3419.

Copies of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of t-Butyl Alcohol (CAS No. 75-65-0) (TR-436) are available without charge from Central Data Management, NIEHS, MD E1-02, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone (919) 541-3419 or send e-mail to CDM@niehs.nih.gov.

Dated: April 27, 1996

 
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Kenneth Olden, Ph.D.
Director
National Toxicology Program

[Billing Code 4140-01]

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*The NTP uses five categories of evidence of carcinogenic activity observed in each animal study: two categories for positive results ("clear evidence" and "some evidence"), one category for uncertain findings ("equivocal evidence"), one category for no observable effect ("no evidence"), and one category for studies that cannot be evaluated because of major flaws ("inadequate study").