13-week inhalation toxicity study and fertility assessment in rats exposed to atmospheres containing adiponitrile.

Adiponitrile is an aliphatic dinitrile that is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of hexamethylenediamine. In order to asses potential health effects associated with industrial exposure, rats were exposed 6 h/d, 5 d/wk for 4 or 13 wk to atmospheres containing a range of adiponitrile concentrations and observed for signs of toxicity. A fertility assessment was also included as a component of the 13-wk study. Mortality and reduced weight gain were observed within 1 wk only in rats exposed to 493 mg/m3. Evidence of slight anemia was present in rats exposed to 99 mg/m3 and above. There was no histopathological evidence of organ toxicity in about 30 tissues from both sexes exposed up to 99 mg/m3, the highest concentration tested, for 13 wk. In addition, fertility, as monitored by reproductive performance and litter parameters, was normal in both males and females similarly exposed.