Characterization of the noncancer hazards of gas oils.

Gas oils, used to manufacture diesel fuel and residential heating oil, are complex hydrocarbon substances with carbon numbers of C9-C30 and boiling ranges of approximately 150 °C to 450 °C. Target organ (liver enlargement, reduced thymus weights, and reductions in hematological parameters) and developmental (reduced fetal viability, increased resorption frequency, and reduced fetal weights) effects are associated with aromatic constituents present in some gas oils. Two types of gas oils were tested for repeated-dose and developmental toxicity following repeated dermal administration.

The toxicological properties of petroleum gases.

To characterize the toxicological hazards of petroleum gases, 90-day inhalation toxicity (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD] 413) and developmental toxicity (OECD 414) tests were conducted with liquefied propane gas (LPG) at concentrations of 1000, 5000, or 10,000 ppm. A micronucleus test (OECD 474) of LPG was also conducted. No systemic or developmental effects were observed; the overall no observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) was 10,000 ppm.