Evaluation of Subchronic (13 Week), Reproductive, and in Vitro Genetic Toxicity Potential of 2-Ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl Acrylate (Octocrylene)

Abstract

Evaluation of Subchronic (13 Week), Reproductive, and in Vitro Genetic Toxicity Potential of 2-Ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl Acrylate (Octocrylene). Odio, M. R., Azri-Meehan, S., Robison, S. H., and Kraus, A. L. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 355-368.Use of 2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate (Octocrylene) in commercial sunscreen products has increased considerably in recent years. To support larger scale human exposure to this compound, additional toxicological information was needed in several key areas. The present studies evaluated subchronic toxicity, developmental toxicity, and in vitro genotoxic potential of Octocrylene. In the subchronic study, male and female New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits treated topically with concentrations of octocrylene up to 534 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks showed slight to moderate dose-dependent skin irritation that correlated positively with a mild depression in body weight gain. Lack of associated histopathologic or clinical hematology abnormalities suggested that the body weight effect probably reflected a nonspecific response to topical irritation. In percutaneous developmental toxicity studies, NZW does were treated topically with Octocrylene at levels up to 267 mg/kg/day on Days 6 through 18 of gestation. Body weight gain, food consumption, and all maternal, reproductive, and offspring parameters evaluated were comparable between Octocrylene-treated and control animals. In the oral developmental toxicity assay, female CD-1 mice received oral doses of Octocrylene up to 1000 mg/kg/day on Days 8-12 of gestation. No evidence of maternal or developmental toxicity was seen at any dose tested. Genotoxicity was evaluated in vitro using the Chinese hamster ovary cell assay to assess clastogenicity and the mouse lymphoma cell assay to assess forward gene mutations. Octocrylene did not induce any significant increase in genotoxicity. This evaluation of toxicological potential supports the use of Octocrylene as a human photoprotectant.