TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
                            (Ftttte retd Ira tractions on the rtvtne before completing]
1. REPORT NO.
  hPA/600/8-88/026
             3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO
                  PB88-179379/AS
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
                                                           6. REPORT DATE
  Health Effects  Assessment for  Dibenzofuran
                                                           «. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
 '. AUTHOR(S)
                                                           I. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME ANO ADDRESS
                                                           10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
                                                           11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
 Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
 Office of Research  and Development
 U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency
 Cincinnati. OH   45268	
              13. TYPE OF REPORT ANO PERIOD COVERED
              14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
                EPA/600/22
15 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
   This report  summarizes and evaluates  information relevant to a preliminary interim
 assessment  of  adverse health effects associated with specific chemicals  or compounds.
 The Office  of  Emergency and Remedial Response (Superfund) uses these  documents in
 preparing cost-benefit analyses under Executive Order 12991 for decision-making under
 CERCLA.  All estimates of acceptable intakes  and carcinogenic potency presented in
 this document  should be considered as preliminary and reflect limited resources
 allocated to this  project.  The intent  in  these assessments is to  suggest acceptable
 exposure levels  whenever sufficient data are  available.  The interim  values presented
 reflect the relative degree of hazard associated with exposure or  risk to the
 chemical(s) addressed.  Whenever possible,  two categories of values have been
 estimated for  systemic toxicants (toxicants for which cancer is not the  endpoint of
 concern).   The first, RfD^ or subchronic reference dose, is an estimate  of an exposure
 level that  would not be expected to cause  adverse effects when exposure  occurs during
 a limited time interval.  The RfD is an estimate of an exposure level  that would not
 be expected to cause adverse effects when  exposure occurs for a significant portion
 of the lifespan.   For compounds for which  there is sufficient evidence of
 carcinogenicity, qi*s have been computed,  if  appropriate, based on oral  and
 inhalation  data  if available.
17.
                               KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                  DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS  C. COSATI Field/Group
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
  Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)

  Unclassified  	
                                                                         21. NO. Of PAGES
                                              20. SECURITY CLASS (This page/
                                                Unclassified
                           22. PRICE
EPA firm 2220.1 (Re*. 4-77)   PREVIOUS COITION K OMOUCTC

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                                            EPA/600/8-88/026
                                            June, 1987
          HEALTH EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
              FOR DIBENZOFURAN
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA AND ASSESSMENT OFFICE
OFFICE OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
      OFFICE OF  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
            CINCINNATI, OH 45268

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                                  DISCLAIMER
    This   document   has   been   reviewed   In  accordance   with   the   U.S.
Environmental   Protection  Agency's  peer  and  administrative  review  policies
and approved for publication.  Mention of  trade names  or  commercial products
does not constitute endorsement  or  recommendation  for use.
                                      11

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                                   PREFACE
    This report  summarizes  and  evaluates  Information relevant  to  a  prelimi-
nary  Interim  assessment  of adverse  health  effects associated  with  dlbenzo-
furan.   All  estimates  of  acceptable   Intakes   and   carcinogenic   potency
presented 1n  this  document should be  considered  as preliminary and  reflect
limited  resources  allocated  to  this  project.    Pertinent  toxlcologlc  and
environmental  data were  located  through  on-Hne  literature searches  of  the
TOXLINE and the  CHEMFATE/DATALOG  data bases.  The  basic  literature  searched
supporting this  document  1s current  up to  May,  1986.  Secondary  sources  of
Information  have also been  relied upon  In the  preparation  of  this  report  and
represent large-scale  health  assessment  efforts  that  entail  extensive  peer
and Agency review.  The following Office  of  Health and  Environmental  Assess-
ment (OHEA)  sources have  been extensively  utilized:

    U.S.  EPA.   1983.   Health  and  Environmental   Effects  Profile  for
    Tetra-,  Penta- and Hexachlorodlbenzofurans.  Prepared  by  the Office
    of  Health and  Environmental  Assessment, Environmental  Criteria  and
    Assessment Office,  Cincinnati,   OH  for   the Office  of  Solid  Haste,
    Washington,  DC.

    U.S.  EPA.   1985.   Health  and  Environmental   Effects  Profile  for
    Bromlnated  Dlbenzofuran.   Prepared   by  the  Office of  Health  and
    Environmental  Assessment,   Environmental  Criteria   and  Assessment
    Office,  Cincinnati, OH  for  the  Office of Solid Waste  and  Emergency
    Response,  Washington,  DC.

    U.S.  EPA.   1986c.   Health  Assessment Document for  Polychlorlnated
    Dlbenzofurans.    Office  of   Health  and  Environmental  Assessment,
    Environmental  Criteria  and  Assessment Office,  Cincinnati,  OH.   EPA
    600/8-86/018A.   NTIS  PB86-221256/AS.  External  Review Draft.
                                      111

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                                   ABSTRACT


    There are  no  pertinent  subchronlc,  chronic,  cardnogenldty, or  repro-
ductive  toxldty  data on  dlbenzofuran.    Dlbenzofuran  was  not  found  to  be
mutagenlc  In  reverse  mutation  assays  and a  2-year  bloassay  of a  related
compound (d1benzo-p-d1ox1n)  did not  result  1n  treatment-related  Increases  1n
tumor  Incidence.   It  1s  recommended  that  a  pharmacoklnetlc profile of  oral
debenzofuran  be  developed   and  that  subchronlc  and  reproductive  toxldty
testing  be  Initiated.  Also,  further testing  for  mutagenlclty  and  clasto-
genldty In  mammalian systems and  short-term jjn vivo  testing  for  carcino-
genic potential should be  performed.
                                      1v

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                               ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
    The  Initial  draft  of  this  report  was  prepared  by  Syracuse  Research
Corporation under  Contract  No. 68-03-3112  for  EPA's  Environmental  Criteria
and  Assessment  Office,  Cincinnati,  OH.   Or. Christopher  DeRosa and  Karen
Blackburn  were  the  Technical  Project  Monitors  and  John  Helms   (Office  of
Toxic  Substances)  was  the  Project  Officer.   The  final  documents  In  this
series  were  prepared  for   the  Office   of  Emergency and Remedial  Response,
Washington, DC.

    Scientists from  the  following  U.S.  EPA offices provided  review  comments
for this document series:

         Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office,  Cincinnati, OH
         Carcinogen Assessment  Group
         Office of A1r Quality  Planning  and Standards
         Office of Solid Waste
         Office of Toxic Substances
         Office of Drinking  Water

Editorial review for the document  series was provided  by  the following:

    Judith Olsen and Erma Durden
    Environmental Criteria and  Assessment Office
    Cincinnati,  OH

Technical  support   services  for  the document  series  was provided  by  the
following:

    Bette Zwayer, Jacky Bohanon and Kim  Davidson
    Environmental CMteMa and  Assessment Office
    Cincinnati,  OH

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                             TABLE  OF  CONTENTS



                                                                       Page



1.  ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND FATE	     1



2.  ABSORPTION FACTORS IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS 	     3



3.  TOXICITY IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS  	     4



4.  CARCINOGENICITY 	     5



5.  REGULATORY STANDARDS AND CRITERIA 	     6



6.  RECOMMENDATIONS 	     7



7.  REFERENCES	     8
                                     v1

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                            LIST OF  ABBREVIATIONS





DWEL                    Drinking water equivalent level



HA                      Health advisory



Koc                     Soil  sorptlon coefficient



ppm                     Parts  per million



RfD                     Reference Dose



SNARL                   Suggested-no-adverse-response level



UV                      Ultraviolet

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                     >.   ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND FATE

    The relevant  physical  and  chemical properties and  environmental  fate  of
dlbenzofuran are presented 1n Table 1-1.
    In  the  atmosphere,  dlbenzofuran  has  the  potential  to  undergo  direct
photolysis,  which  1s  due  to  UV absorption  >290  nm,  and  H  may  react  with
photochemlcally generated  hydroxyl  radicals  (estimated vapor  phase  ty_  Is
-7 hours).  (U.S.  EPA, 1982, 1986a).   Since  part  of  the dlbenzofuran emitted
to  the  atmosphere may exist  1n the  partlculate  form,  this  part may,  as  a
constituent  of  coke  dust,  grate ash,  fly  ash, flame  soots,  etc.,  transport
over  long distances  because the partlculate  sorbed  compound  1s  less  likely
to undergo chemical reaction than  the  compound  In the  vapor  state (U.S.  EPA,
1982; Llgockl  et al.,  1985).
    In  water  and  soil   systems,   m1crob1al  degradation  appears  to  be  the
dominant  degradation  mechanism of  polynuclear  aromatic compounds  (Sims  and
Overcash,   1983).    In aqueous  systems,  dlbenzofuran  should  bloaccumulate
moderately In aquatic organisms and  adsorb to  suspended solids  and sediments
(Lu et  al.,  1978, U.S.   EPA,  1982; Bjoerseth et  al.,  1979).    In  the  sorbed
state  the compound  Is   Hkely  to  be  persistent   (Bjoerseth  et  al.,  1979).
Estimated   K    values ranging  from  1230-9940   Indicate  that  dlbenzofuran
should strongly adsorb to  soil; however, dlbenzofuran  has  been  detected  In a
shallow aquifer under  a  creosote facility (Bedlent et al.,  1984).
    Pertinent  data  regarding  human exposure  to   dlbenzofuran  could  not  be
located 1n the available  literature.
0088h                               -1-                              11/26/86

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                                  TABLE 1-1

       Physical  and Chemical  Properties  and Half-Lives  for  Dlbenzofuran
        Property
         Value
      Reference
CAS number

Chemical class:

Molecular weight:

Melting point:

Boiling Point:


Vapor pressure:

Water solubility:

Log octanol/water
partition coefficient:


Bloconcentratlon factor:
Soil adsorption
coefficient (Koc)
Half-lives In
  Air:
  Water:
132-64-9

Polynuclear aromatic

168.20

82.8-83°C

276°C (760 mm Hg)
287°C (760 mm Hg)

~1.75xlO-2 mm Hg

-3 mg/l at 25°C
4.12
3.18

  83, alga (Oedogonlum)
2860, snail (Physa)
 947, fish (Gambusla)
1230-4150 (estimated)
9940 (estimated)
<1 day (estimated)
(vapor phase)

years
(adsorbed to sediments)
U.S. EPA, 1982

U.S. EPA, 1982


U.S. EPA, 1982

U.S. EPA, 1982
Hansch and Leo, 1985
Lu et a!., 1978

Lu et al., 1978
Lyman et al., 1982
Sabljlc, 1984
U.S. EPA, 1986a


Bjoerseth et al., 1979
0088h
        -2-
              11/26/86

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           2.   ABSORPTION  FACTORS  IN  HUMANS  AND  EXPERIMENTAL  ANIMALS







    Pertinent  data  regarding  the  absorption of  dlbenzofuran  after  oral  or



Inhalation exposure could not be located In the available literature.
0088h                               -3-                              11/26/86

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                3.  TOXICITY  IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

    The U.S. EPA  (1986c)  reviewed  several  studies that Indicated  that  other
than a  few subchronlc  toxldty  studies  of  PCDFs  1n  rats,  chicks and  mice,
there are  no  studies of  chronic  toxldty.   Two of  three  monkeys died  on  a
diet containing  5 yg/kg  (food)  administered  over 6  months.   It Is  highly
probable  that  continuous  exposure  at  low  levels  causes  cumulative  toxic
effects especially  1n view  of  the lesions  observed  1n  monkeys  at an  acute
dose that  was  <4% of  the LD5Q  (McNulty  et a!.,  1981).   It appears  likely
that PCflFs  make a  substantial  contribution  to the  toxldty  of  commercial
PCBs and polychlorophenols.
    Since  the  residence  time of  2,3,7,8-T.CDF  Is  higher  In  guinea  pigs
than other  animals  tested and  guinea  pigs  are  most  sensitive  to the  toxic
effects  of 2,3,7,8-T.CDF,   loannou  et al.  (1983)  studied bloaccumulatlon
and  toxldty   of  2,3,7,8-T.CDF   1n   male   Hartley  guinea   pigs..    Five- to
six-week-old animals weighing 360-430 g and 16-  to 18-week-old adult  animals
weighing -800 g  were treated  by  gavage with  2,3,7,8-T CDF dissolved   1n  a
mixture of emulphar:ethanol  {1:1)  diluted 8-fold  1n  distilled water.   Single
oral  treatments  of   10  or   15  yg/kg  bw  2,3,7,8-T.CDF  to  adult   animals
resulted In  Immediate drastic weight  loss  and  death  within 2 4  weeks.   In
young animals  neither single treatments  of 4  yg/kg  bw nor multiple  treat-
ments of  1 vg/kg bw/week for 4 weeks could  produce any observable  adverse
effects  by day  36,  when  the animals  were sacrificed.   However,  multiple
treatment  of  young  animals   with  low  doses   totaling cumulative doses  of
between 4 and  12 yg/kg resulted  In death  of  75X of the animals.
    The administration  of PCDFs  Induces  a  number  of hepatic enzymes,  espe-
cially those using 3-methylcholanthrene as  Inducer (Poland  and  Glover,  1974).


0088h                                4-                              01/27/87

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Structure/activity relationships  of  PCOFs  were studied for  the  Induction  of
AHH and  6-am1nolevul1n1c add  synthetase  activities  1n  chick  embryo.   The
most  acutely  toxic   Isomers  are also  the  most  potent  Inducers  of  AHH
activity.   The  E05Q  of  2,3,7,8-T4CDF on  AHH  Induction  In  the  rat  Is  0.5
yg/kg/day for 3 days  (Poland et  al.,  1976).
    Luster et al. (1979) exposed  adult Hartley  guinea  pigs  through Injestlon
to  0.05-1  yg/kg/week  of 2,3,7,8-T.CDF  1n corn  oil  for  6  weeks  to  study
Its effects  on  Immune  function.  Thymus-to-body weight ratios were slightly
reduced  1n  the  0.5  and 1.0  yg  dosage  groups.   Cell-mediated  Immune  func-
tions   were  depressed  for  the 0.5 yg dosage  group  as Indicated  by lympho-
cyte  blastogenesls,  delayed  hypersensHlvlty  reactions  and production  of
macrophage Inhibitor  factors.
TeratogenlcUy
    Teratogenlc  activities  of 2,3,7,8-T.CDF  have  recently  been  reported  by
Weber   et  al.  (1984)  1n mice.   Pregnant  C57B1/6N mice were given  either  a
single dose  by  gavage on   gestation  day  10  with 250,  500  and  1000  yg  of
2,3,7,8-T CDF/kg  bw  or  dally  doses  on  gestation  days 10  through  13 with
10,  30,   50  and  100  yg of  2,3,7,8-T CDF/kg  bw.   The  chemical  contained
>98%   pure   2,3,7,8-T.CDF.    The  primary   Impurities  were  found   to   be
PrCDFs.   Each  animal was given  a total of  10 ml/kg  bw  at  each treatment.
Though these doses were  below toxic  level  to  the  dams, the  animals receiving
dally   doses  on  four  gestation  days   had mild changes  1n  liver   cells  char-
acterized by proliferation  of  the smooth  endoplasmlc  retlculum.
    In  this  experiment,  the authors found  that  single  administration  on
gestation day  10 with  250, 500  and  1000  yg/kg  bw  resulted  In  significant
(p<0.05)   Increases In  fetal mortality.   In single as  well  as multiple dosed
groups there  were significant  (p<0.01)  dose-related  Increases  In  both Iso-
lated   cleft   palates,   and  hydronephrosls   1n  the  fetuses  were  observed.

0088h                                -5-                              01/27/87

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In  utero  four  exposures  of  10  yg/kg/day resulted  In  significant  (p<0.01)
Increases  In  hydronephrosls  of  the  kidney.   This  was  the  lowest  adverse
effect level  observed  1n this experiment.  The  right kidney of  the fetuses
seems to be affected more severely  than the left  kidney.
    Teratogenlc  effects  of 2,3,7,8-T  CDF  have also  been reported  recently
In  BXD  recomblnant  Inbred  strains of  mice  by  Hassoun  et  al.   (1984).   No
teratogenlc effects 1n humans  have  been observed.
Adverse Human Health Effects
    The  available   Information  on   adverse health  effects  1n  humans  comes
mostly from  Japan  where In 1968 many people  ate  rice oil (Yusho)  that  was
later  found  to  be  contaminated  with  PCBs and  PCDFs.   In  19681, some  1200
Japanese people  consumed high levels  of  PCOFs 1n rice  oil  (Yusho)  contami-
nated with 800-1000  ppm of a  Japanese PCS formulation,  Kanechlor 400,  which
had  leaked  from a  heat exchanger   (Nagayama  et  al.,  1975).   This  caused  a
severe toxic reaction fcnown as Yusho  episode.  Symptoms  of Yusho  disease are
described 1n Table 3-1.  Several months before this  Incident, half a million
chicks were killed by a  crude bran oil  from  the  same origin as  Yusho oil  but
the  warning  went  unheeded  (Kohanawa et  al.,  1969).   The  composition  of
Kanechlor 400 resembled  that  of Aroclor 1248.  However,  reports  of the total
PCDF  content varied  greatly from Investigator  to  Investigator.   Some general
symptoms  Included   the  following:    retarded  growth,  abnormal  I1p1d  metab-
olism, liver disturbances,  acneform eruption,  skin  pigmentation  and cutaneo-
mucosal  lesions.  Liver  and  adipose  tissue  of  a  few  patients   examined  4
years after the  contamination showed  retention of  PCBs at ppb-ppm levels and
PCDFs  at  ppb  levels.   The 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF was  found  to  be retained  by  the
liver at  higher concentrations  than  other  Isomers  (Kuratsune et  al.,  1976;
Klmbrough, 1974).


0088h                               -6-                              01/23/87

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                                   TABLE  3-1



                          Symptoms of Yusho Disease*
Symptoms
Blackening of nails
Black spots In all pores
Excessive sweating 1n palms
Acnellke skin eruptions
Red spots on limbs
Itching
Change 1n skin color
Swelling of hands and feet
Stiffened soles 1n feet and palms of hands
Pigmentation of mucous membranes
Increased eye discharge
Hyperemla of mucous membranes 1n eyes
Transient visual disturbance
Jaundice
Swelling of upper eyelids
Sense of weakness
Numbness of hands and feet
Fever
Hearing difficulty
Spasms of hands and feet
Headaches
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Males
(X)
83.1
64.0
50.0
87.6
20.2
42.7
75.3
20.2 •
24.7
56.2
88.8
70.8
56.2
11.2
71.9
58.4
32.6
16.9
18.0
7.9
30.3
23.6
19.1
Females
(X)
75.0
56.0
55.0
82.0
16.0
52.0
72.0
41.0
29.0
47.0
83.0
71.0
55.0
11.0
74.0
52.0
39.0
19.0
19.0
8.0
39.0
28.0
17.0
*Source:  Kuratsune et al., 1972; U.S. EPA, 1986c
0088h
-7-
01/26/87

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Hutaqenldty



    Dlbenzofuran,   2,8-D-CDF,   3,6,-D.CDF,   2,3,7,8-T.CDF   and   OCDF   are
                         2             d.                A


not mutagenlc  1n any  of  the  standard  Salmonella  strains  (Schoeny,  1982).



A mixture  of  PCDFs   containing   3-6   chlorines   enhanced  slster-chromatld



exchanges  In  Chinese  hamster lymphocyte cultures  at  0.1-1.0 mg/8.  (Inoue et



al., 1979).
 Q088h                                -8-                               01/22/87

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                             4.  CARCINOGENICITY
Animal
    Close   structural    similarity    of    PCDFs   to    PCDDs,    especially
2,3,7,8-T.CDD which  Is  a proven  animal  carcinogen,  raises  concern  as  to
the   potential   cardnogenldty  of   2,3,7,8-T.CDF.    However,   no   animal
cardnogenldty   bloassay  data   on   PCDFs  are  currently  available  1n  the
literature.
    The NCI  (1979)  conducted 2-year  d1benzo-p-d1ox1n feeding  studies  using
rats and mice.  This compound Is structurally  similar  to  dlbenzofuran.   Rats
and  mice  of  both  sexes  received  0,  5000,   or  10,000  ppm;  survivors  were
sacrificed after 110-117 weeks  (rats)  or 91-97 weeks  (mice)  for hlstologlcal
analysis.   Administration of  the  high  concentration accelerated  mortality
rate  In  female  rats  and mice,  and  mean  body weight  gains  were  generally
lower,  which  was   due  to  treatment.   Nonneoplastlc  hepatotoxlc  effects
(primarily  fatty  metamorphosis  and  necrosis)  were concentration-related  In
rats and female mice.  There were also slight  treatment-related Increases  1n
renal  lesions,   Including  renal  tubular   dllutatlons   (female   rats)   and
Interstitial Inflammation (female mice).
    The  U.S.  EPA  (1986c)  noted  that  the  biological  activity  of  various
chlorinated dlbenzofurans varies greatly, so  that  risk  assessment  by  analogy
to any of these  more widely studied  compounds would not be recommended.
Human
     Amano et al. (1984)  recently completed  a  16-year  cohort mortality  study
of  1086  Yusho  victims  In Japan.  The  581  males  and 505  females  sustained  a
total  of  70 deaths  (42  males  vs.   45.81  expected and  28  females vs.  31.3
expected).    These  data  are   based   upon   Japanese   national  death   rates
0088h                               -9-          .                    01/26/87

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over age 40  through  October  31,  1983.   In this population,  for  persons  over
40  years  of  age overall  cancer  mortality was  greater  than expected  In  men
but no difference 1n women.  In male Yusho victims  19  cancer deaths  occurred
vs. 11.50 expected and  1n female  Yusho victims 7 cancer  deaths  occurred  vs.
7.20  expected.   However,  by  organ  site,   the  risk  of  liver  cancer  was
consistently   found  to  be high  1n  both men   and  women during  the  entire
16-year observation period.  Even  after  a 9-year  latent  period,  the  risk of
liver   cancer  In  males  was   significant  (observed =   5,  expected  ~  0.75,
p<0.01).
    As a  result  of  an  In-depth review of this study,  1t has  been  suggested
by CAG (U.S.  EPA,  1986c)  that  a case could  be made that PCBs as  the compo-
nents   of  the PCOFs  that  caused the Yusho  Incident In  Japan may also  have
been  responsible  for  the statistically  significant  liver  cancers   seen  1n
these  victims.
    Dlbenzofuran should be classified as  an  EPA Group D  (U.S.  EPA,  1986b) or
an  IARC  Group  3  chemical.   These  categories are  for  compounds  In  which
evidence of animal  cardnogenlcHy 1s Inadequate  or limited  and  there are no
human  data.
0088h                               -1:0-    .                         06/09/87

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                     5.   REGULATORY  STANDARDS  AND  CRITERIA

    Pertinent  guidelines  and  standards,  Including EPA  ambient air  quality
criteria,  drinking  water  standards,  EPA or  FAO/WHO  AOIs  (currently  RfDs),
EPA or  FDA  tolerances  for  new  agricultural  commodities  or  foods,  SNARLS,
HAs, OWELs,  and  ACGIH,  NIOSH or  OSHA occupational  exposure  limits  could not
be located In the available literature.
    The  U.S.  EPA  (1975)  determined  an  odor   threshold   of   120  vq/l  for
dlbenzofuran.  The U.S. EPA  (1982)  recommended  that this  level be  considered
an ambient water criteria,  based  exclusively on  organoleptlc properties.
0088h                               -11-                             06/09/87

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                             6.  RECOMMENDATIONS

    Physical   properties  (vapor  pressure  at  25°C  of   1.75xlO-2   mm  Hg)
Indicate that dlbenzofuran may not constitute an  1nhalat1onal  health  hazard.
Olbenzofuran  Is Hkely to persist 1n soil  sediments  and  may  bloaccumulate In
aquatic organisms.   Oral  exposure  seems to be more  environmentally  relevant
than Inhalation exposure.  Because of  the  sparslty  of  toxlcologlcal  Informa-
tion,  1t  1s  recommended  that  a complete  pharmacoklnetic  profile  of  oral
dlbenzofuran  be  developed 1n  experimental  animals.  Appropriate  subchronlc
and  reproductive  toxlclty testing  using dietary dlbenzofuran  should  then be
Initiated.   Although dlbenzofuran was  negative  for  mutagenlclty  1n bacterial
reverse mutation assays (Schoeny, 1982)  and  the  related  d1benzo-p-d1ox1n was
not  carcinogenic  In  2-year  feeding  studies (NCI,  1979), mutagenlclty  and
clastogenldty  assays   In  mammalian  systems  and short-term  j_n  vivo  cancer
blossays should be performed.
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