Acrylonitrile

Eye irritation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

eye irritation: in vivo

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

other company data

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1975

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

Only two rabbits were used; the eye of one rabbit was washed, the eye of the other rabbit remained unwashed.

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

: older study, pre-dates GLP

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Acrylonitrile

EC Number:

203-466-5

EC Name:

Acrylonitrile

Cas Number:

107-13-1

Molecular formula:

C3H3N

IUPAC Name:

prop-2-enenitrile

Test animals / tissue source

Species:

rabbit

Strain:

not specified

Remarks:

albino

Details on test animals or tissues and environmental conditions:

Two albino rabbits.

Test system

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Controls:

yes, concurrent no treatment

Amount / concentration applied:

0.1mL undiluted acrylonitrile

Duration of treatment / exposure:

One rabbit's treated eye was washed after 20 seconds, the second rabbit's eye was not washed.

Observation period (in vivo):

21 days

Number of animals or in vitro replicates:

2 rabbits

Details on study design:

Observations of the eye were made at 1 and 4 hours and subsequently after 1, 2, 7, 14 and 21 days.

Results and discussion

In vivo

Results

Irritation parameter:

cornea opacity score

Basis:

other:

Time point:

21 d

Score:

ca. 1

Max. score:

3

Reversibility:

not fully reversible within: 21 days

Remarks on result:

probability of severe irritation

Irritant / corrosive response data:

Acrylonitrile produced moderate corneal opacity, moderate iritis and severe conjunctival irritation in the unwashed treated eye. The treated eye that was washed after 20 seconds exposure showed slight temporary corneal opacity, transient moderate iritic congestion and moderate conjunctival irritation.

Other effects:

No other effects reported.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Acrylonitrile produced moderate corneal opacity, moderate iritis and severe conjunctival irritation in the unwashed treated eye. The treated eye that was washed after exposure for 20 seconds showed slight temporary corneal opacity, transient moderate iridic congestion and moderate conjunctival irritation. The washed eye was normal within 3 days. The unwashed eye showed signs of healing by Day 3, with some evidence of corneal vascularisation. By Days 14 and 21, mild opacity remained with traces of vascularisation. The effects were seen in both rabbits and were not completely reversible in the unwashed eye, while by washing the eye the effects were considerably lessened, as was the duration of the effects.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

Category 1 (irreversible effects on the eye) based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate that acrylonitrile causes eye irritation. The lack of complete reversibility of corneal effects within the 21-day study period supports the harmonised classification of the substance for serious eye damage (Cat 1) according to CLP.

Executive summary:

In a guideline-comparable study, 0.1 mL acrylonitrile was instilled into in the conjunctival sac of the right eye of two rabbits. After 20 seconds the treated eye of one of the rabbits was washed with tap water for 1 minute, the other rabbit remained unwashed. Corneal opacity/conjunctive irritation occurred up to 3 days in the washed eye and up to 21 days in the unwashed treated eye. Acrylonitrile was therefore found to be an eye irritant under the conditions of this study. The lack of complete reversibility of corneal effects within the 21-day study period supports the harmonised classification of the substance for serious eye damage (Cat 1).