Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening test of new TiO<sub>2</sub> GST in Sprague-Dawley rats

Baek, Hyung Seon; Park, Myeong Kyu; Kim, Hye Min; Im, Jae Min; Seo, Heung Sik; Park, Hee Ju; Nah, Sung Soon

doi:2022.37.3.e2022018

Environ Anal Health Toxicol > Volume 37:2022 > Article

Original Article

Published online July 12, 2022

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2022;37(3):e2022018-0. doi: https://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2022018

Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening test of new TiO₂ GST in Sprague-Dawley rats

¹Healthcare Advanced Chemical Research Institute, Korea Testing and Research Institute (KTR), 12-63, Sandan-gil, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, 58141, Republic of Korea
²Research Laboratory, Bentech Frontier Co. Ltd., Nanosandan-ro, Nam-myeon, Jangseong, Jeollanam-do, 57248, Republic of Korea
³Division of Environment & Health, Korea Testing & Research Institute, 98, Gyoyukwon-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13810, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author: Sung Soon Nah ,Email: nahs@ktr.or.kr

Received: December 1, 2021; Accepted: June 27, 2022.

ABSTRACT

TiO₂ nanoparticles are widely used in paints, plastics, cosmetics, printing ink, rubber, food products, pharmaceuticals and other products (photocatalyst, etc.). However, there is little toxicological information during reproduction and developmental period. This study was performed to obtain safety data for new TiO₂ powder, GST (Green Sludge Titanium) produced through sludge recycling of the sewage treatment plant for Reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in according to the OECD test guideline (TG 421). Based on the results of the dose-range finding study (14-day repeated toxicity), GST was orally administered to rats at doses of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg B.W/day. Males were dosed for 35 days beginning 14 days before mating, and females for a maximum of 53 days beginning 14 days before mating to day 13 of lactation, including throughout the mating, gestation and lactation periods. In the reproductive and developmental examinations, there were no marked toxicities in terms of general clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, organ weights, macroscopic / microscopic findings, stages of spermatogenesis in the testis, reproductive finding (estrous cycle, copulation-fertility-gestation index), developmental finding (number of corpora lutea and implantations, pups parameters including live birth and viability index). The NOAEL for reproductive/developmental screening toxicity was concluded to be 2000 mg/kg/day under the present study conditions.

Keywords: TiO₂, reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test, NOAEL, GST