Distribution, elimination and retention of styrene in rats

Review of the in vivo genotoxicity tests performed with styrene

Results from new genotoxicity tests in laboratory animals have necessitated a comprehensive re-evaluation of the mutagenic potential of styrene in vivo. Available data suggest that styrene, after being metabolized to styrene oxide, is weakly positive in indicator tests detecting DNA adducts, DNA strand breaks and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). There is no convincing evidence of styrene clastogenicity in experimental animals when the quality of the studies and the plausibility of the test results are considered. Equivocal results were obtained after exposure to high doses causing lethality. A recently published in vivo micronucleus test (MNT) in bone marrow cells of mice conforming to the current OECD guideline was clearly negative. Consequently, our evaluation of the published genotoxicity data comes to the conclusion that styrene at high doses can induce genotoxic effects in indicator tests. These DNA effects depend upon the exposure levels of the target cells, the metabolic activation to styrene oxide and the efficiency of detoxification. Mutagenic effects of styrene can only be expected under extreme exposure conditions if styrene oxide is not efficiently detoxified and primary DNA lesions are not completely repaired. However, there is no clear evidence that styrene induces mutagenic/clastogenic effects in vivo when tested under appropriate test conditions.

Application and results of whole-body autoradiography in distribution studies of organic solvents

With the growing concern for the health hazards of occupational exposure to toxic substances attention has been focused on the organic solvents, which are associated with both deleterious nervous system effects and specific tissue injuries. Relatively little is known about the distribution of organic solvents and their metabolites in the living organism. Knowledge of the specific tissue localizations and retention of solvents and solvent metabolites is of great value in revealing and understanding the sites and mechanisms of organic solvent toxicity. Whole-body autoradiography has been modified and applied to distribution studies of benzene, toluene, m-xylene, styrene, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene and carbon disulfide. The high volatility of these substances has led to the development of cryo-techniques. Whole-body autoradiographic techniques applicable to the study of volatile substances are reviewed. The localizations of nonvolatile solvent metabolites and firmly bound metabolites have also been examined. The obtained results are discussed in relation to toxic effects and evaluated by comparison with other techniques used in distribution studies of organic solvents and their metabolites.