Higher animals, toxicity tests using

Animal data are available for intermediate exposures by the inhalation and dermal routes of exposure. No animal data were located by the oral route. Most of these studies found no evidence of toxicity in any of the exposure conditions used in each (Carpenter et al. 1976 Bruner 1984 Lock et al. 1984 NTP/NIH 1986). However, the lack of toxicity in these studies has not been verified by more than one study using the same fuel oil, species, and/or route of exposure. In one aerosol inhalation study (Dalbey et al. 1987) there were positive findings for respiratory, hematological, and body weight effects at higher doses than those used in the studies by Carpenter et al. (vapor) (1979) and Lock et al. (aerosol) (1984). However, MRLs cannot be derived from these data because the Dalbey et al. study was not designed to test for a dose-response relationship, and therefore, the exact LOAEL(s) could not be determined for these effects. 

Toxicity test procedure in higher animals (e.g., rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys) is different from that in lower animals because the number of available animals usually is limited. As mentioned earlier, it is not economical or practical to use a few hundred mammals for the evaluation of a single toxicity test. The limitation in number has necessitated several adjustments to assure the validity of toxicity determinations in higher animals. Typically, in the pesticide industry, three types of tests are required acute, subacute, and chronic. 

---