4-Week inhalation toxicity of 2-methylnaphthalene in experimental animals

Objectives: This paper presents toxic effects of 2-MN in laboratory animals under conditions of 4-week inhalation exposure to 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN) vapors. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to 2-MN vapors at a nominal concentration of 0, 2, 10 or 50 mg/m³ in dynamic inhalation chambers for 4 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week). After 4 weeks of inhalation exposure the animals were necropsied. Blood samples were collected and selected organs were weighted and prepared for histological examinations. Results: The effects of the increased levels of exposure to 2-MN experienced by the experimental rats were as follows: a) increasing γ-glutamylotransferase activity, b) stimulation of the hematopoietic system, c) lower cholesterol concentrations, d) higher number of goblet cells in lobar bronchi, e) hyperplasia of hepatic bile ducts. Conclusion: Four-week exposure of the animals to 2-MN at 2 mg/m³ proved to be the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL), while 10 mg/m³ appeared to represent the lowest-observed-adverseeffect- level (LOAEL).