Glycidyloxy compounds used in epoxy resin systems: a toxicology review.

The glycidyloxy compounds constitute an important group of chemicals used extensively in the formulation of epoxy resin systems employed in coatings, electronics, structural composites, and adhesives. Although extensive toxicological data are available on glycidyloxy compounds, use and understanding of the data have been hampered by two major problems: (1) proper identification and complexity of the epoxy systems in question, and (2) absence of meaningful classification of epoxy materials. This paper provides a classification scheme with CAS numbers and reviews the mammalian toxicology of the most common glycidyloxy derivatives used in epoxy resin systems based on both published and proprietary information.

Chlordecone lacks estrogenic properties in the male rat.

The reproductive toxicity of chlordecone has been hypothesized to derive from estrogen mimicry. To test this hypothesis, the effects of estradiol-17 beta, testosterone, and chlordecone on the male reproductive tract of 60-day-old male rats were compared after 72 days of exposure. Estradiol-17 beta (25 micrograms/week) and testosterone (945 micrograms/week), administered by polydimethylsiloxane capsules implanted subdermally, caused significant reductions in spermatogenesis, sperm motility, testicular capacity for secreting testosterone, and the weights of testes and epididymides.