Sodium chlorite reproductive and developmental toxicity

20 litters in each treatment group of the Fi generation were selected for a functional observational battery of tests to assess normal behaviour, motor activity, swim maze and acoustic startle habituation. Ten animals from each sex per group in the Fi generation underwent a neuropathological assessment. 

In a study reported in abstract form only, pregnant Wistar rats were dosed by gavage with 0,25, 50 or 100 mg sodium chlorite/kg bw per day from GD 6 to GD 15. Rats were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy, and fetuses were examined. Decreased food consumption, anaemia, sedation, haematuria and death were seen in the high-dose rats, but no fetal effects were observed at any dose. The authors concluded that sodium chlorite was not teratogenic when administered orally and that the NOELs were 50 mg/kg bw per day for maternal toxicity and 100 mg/kg bw per day for the fetuses (Sakemi et al., 1999). 

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