Nitrobenzene carcinogenicity in animals and human hazard evaluation. 1999

J W Holder
National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA. holder.james@epa.gov

Nitrobenzene (NB) human cancer studies have not been reported, but animals studies have. Three rodent strains inhaling NB produce cancer at eight sites. B6C3F1 mice respond with mammary gland malignant tumors and male lung and thyroid benign tumors, F344/N male rats respond with liver malignant tumors and thyroid and kidney benign tumors, while females respond with endometrial polyps. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (CD strain) respond with liver benign tumors. NB is oxidized to various phenolic metabolites, while also being reduced in the cecum and systemically in the microsomes to nitrosobenzene (NOB), phenylhydroxylamine (PH), related free radicals, and aniline (AN). Based on structural and mechanistic similarities, NB compares with other animal and human carcinogenic nitroarenes and aromatic amines. Reduced NB first forms the nitroanion free radical, which can react with O2 to form superoxide O2*. Repeated NB dosing produces a persistent redox couple NOB<==>PH in red blood cells (RBCs) that generates met-Hb and expends NAD(P)H. NOB forms activated glutathione (GSH) conjugates. These biochemical effects may lead to critical redox imbalances and macromolecular binding. Known NB effects are hemosiderosis, methemoglobinemia, and anemia--and now dispersed cancer in rodents. On the basis of animal, metabolic and structure-activity studies, NB is determined to be a probable human carcinogen by any route of exposure.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009152 Mutagenicity Tests Tests of chemical substances and physical agents for mutagenic potential. They include microbial, insect, mammalian cell, and whole animal tests. Genetic Toxicity Tests,Genotoxicity Tests,Mutagen Screening,Tests, Genetic Toxicity,Toxicity Tests, Genetic,Genetic Toxicity Test,Genotoxicity Test,Mutagen Screenings,Mutagenicity Test,Screening, Mutagen,Screenings, Mutagen,Test, Genotoxicity,Tests, Genotoxicity,Toxicity Test, Genetic
D009374 Neoplasms, Experimental Experimentally induced new abnormal growth of TISSUES in animals to provide models for studying human neoplasms. Experimental Neoplasms,Experimental Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Experimental
D009578 Nitrobenzenes BENZENE derivatives carrying nitro group substituents.
D011916 Rats, Inbred F344 An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes. Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000280 Administration, Inhalation The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract. Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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