Chronic oral toxicities of four stearic acid emulsifiers

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Four emulsifiers were fed in concentrations ranging from 2% to 25% in the diets of rats for two years; two of these were also fed to dogs for 19 to 20 months at 5% of the diet. Deleterious effects, largely limited to the higher levels of feeding, included increased liver weight with all substances at 25% except Myrj 52, plus the following for each substance. Span 60 caused significant increase in mortality of rats at the 10 and 25% levels, growth depression and kidney enlargement at 25%, two instances of enlargement of the common bile duct at the 25% level, and slight fatty changes in some livers. The feeding of 5% had no effect on dogs. Myrj 52 caused growth depression among male rats fed at 25% dietary concentration, diarrhea ranging from marked to slight from the 25% level downward, very slight to moderate enlargement of the cecum at the three higher levels, and very slight focal adenomatoid hyperplasia of the liver at 10% and 25%. Tween 60 produced marked diarrhea at 10% and 25%, enlargement of the cecum which was slight to moderate at the 25% level and less at 10%, and questionable fatty changes of a very slight degree in the livers of rats fed at 25%. Myrj 45 produced bladder stones in about one-third of the 25% male rats (27 of 87) with associated bladder tumors in nearly half of these (13 of 27). One female also had bladder stones. Bladder stones did not occur below the 25% feeding level. The incidence of spontaneous tumors was affected in male rats at the 2% and 5% levels. Livers were significantly heavier at 5% and 10% and slight fatty changes occurred in some livers, the numbers increasing with dosage. Dogs exhibited no distinct effect due to the feeding of 5% Myrj 45. Myverol 18-00 used as a control at 25% (the only level fed) caused a mild degree of renal tubular calcification.