Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Developmental and
Reproductive Toxicology
of Methanol
JOHN M. ROGERS,
1
JEFFREY S. GIFT,
2
and STANLEY BARONE, JR
3
1
Toxicity Assessment Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
2
Hazardous Pollutant Assessment Group, National Center for Environmental
Assessment, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
3
National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental
Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
5.1
INTRODUCTION
Methanol is a well-known human toxicant, producing ocular toxicity
and death following acute exposure by a number of routes (Tephly and
Mcmartin, 1984; Kavet and Nauss, 1990), but human developmental
toxicity has not been reported. Methanol has been identified as a rodent
teratogen in studies undertaken because of the potential for occupa-
tional exposures or increased use of this alcohol in vehicle fuels (Nelson
et al., 1985; Rogers et al., 1993; Bolon et al., 1993). Subsequent
developmental and reproductive studies in monkeys were more equiv-
ocal in their findings, albeit at lower exposure levels (Burbacher et al.,
1999a, b, 2004a, b). This chapter reviews the literature describing the
developmental and reproductive toxicity of methanol and germane to
understanding the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of these
