TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
                            (Pleat reed li*a\icnons on the reverie before completing/
 1. REPORT NO.
  EPA/600/8-88/044
                              2.
              3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO

                  PB88-179916/AS
 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
                                                           5. REPORT DATE
   Health Effects Assessment  for  Isophorone
                                                           6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
 7. AUTHOR(S)
                                                           8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME ANO ADDRESS
                                                            10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
                                                           11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
 12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME ANO 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, RfDs or subchronic reference dose, is sn  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.
 7.
                                KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                  DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENOE D TERMS  c. COSATI Field/Croup
 8. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
                                              19. SECURITY CLAS> (Thu Report!
                                                                         21. NO. OF PAGES
  Public
                                              20. SECURITY CLASS
                                                Unclassified
                                                                        22. PRICE
EPA Farm 2220-1 (R«». 4-77)   PKCVIOUB EDITION n OBSOLETE

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                                             EPA/600/8-88/044
                                             May,  1987
          HEALTH EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
                FOR  ISOPHORONE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA AND ASSESSMENT OFFICE
OFFICE OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
      OFFICE OF  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
            CINCINNATI, OH 45268
         U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
         R3gion 5, Library  (5PL-16)
         ?-'/0 £- Dearborn  Sr.'.-.et,  Hocm  1670
         Chicago, IL   60004

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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 Isopho-
rone.   All  estimates of acceptable Intake and carcinogenic potency presented
1n  this  document  should  be  considered as  preliminary and  reflect  limited
resources  allocated  to  this  project.   Pertinent  toxlcologlc  and  environ-
mental  data  were  located through on-Hne literature searches of the TOXLINE,
CANCERLINE   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  Assessment  (OHEA)  sources  have been extensively utilized:

    U.S.  EPA.   1980a.    Ambient  Water  Quality  Criteria   Document  for
    Isophorone.   Prepared  by the  Office  of  Health and  Environmental
    Assessment,  Environmental Criteria  and Assessment  Office,  Cincin-
    nati,  OH for  the Office  of  Water Regulations  and  Standards, Wash-
    ington,  DC.   EPA  400/5-80-056.  NTIS P881-117673.

    U.S.  EPA.   1980b.  Hazard Profile  for  Isophorone.   Prepared  by the
    Office   of  Health   and   Environmental   Assessment,  Environmental
    Criteria  and  Assessment  Office,  Cincinnati, OH  for the  Office  of
    Solid Waste, Washington, DC.

    U.S.  EPA.  1986a.    Health  and  Environmental  Effects   Profile  for
    Isophorone.   Prepared  by the  Office  of  Health and  Environmental
    Assessment, Environmental  Criteria  and Assessment  Office,  Cincin-
    nati,  OH  for  the  Office of  Solid Waste  and   Emergency  Response,
    Washington, DC.

    U.S.  EPA.   1986b.    Integrated  Risk  Information  System  (IRIS).
    Reference  Dose  (RfD)  for   Oral  Exposure  for  Isophorone.   Online
    (verification  date  11/16/86).  Office  of Health and  Environmental
    Assessment,   Environmental    Criteria    and    Assessment    Office,
    C1nc1rnat1, OH.

    The Intent  In these  assessments Is  to suggest acceptable exposure  levels
whenever  sufficient  data  were available.  Values were  not  derived  or  larger
uncertainty  factors  were  employed when  the  variable  data  were limited  In
scope   tending  to   generate  conservative   (I.e.,   protective)   estimates.
Nevertheless,  the Interim  values  presented reflect  the relative  degree  of
hazard associated  with exposure or risk to the chemlcal(s)  addressed.

    Whenever  possible,   two  categories  of  values  have  been  estimated  for
systemic  toxicants   (toxicants   for  which  cancer  1s   not   the  endpolnt  of
concern).   The  first,  RfD$ (formerly  AIS)  or  subchronlc 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  (I.e.,  for  an
Interval  that  does  not  constitute  a  significant  portion of the  llfespan).
                                      111

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This  type  of  exposure estimate has not  been  extensively  used,  or rigorously
defined,  as  previous  risk  assessment  efforts  have been  primarily  directed
towards  exposures   from  toxicants  in  ambient  air  or  water where  lifetime
exposure   1s   assumed.    Animal   data   used   for   RFD$  estimates  generally
Include  exposures  with durations of  30-90  days.   Subchronlc human  data  are
rarely  available.   Reported  exposures are usually  from chronic occupational
exposure  situations  or  from  reports  of acute accidental  exposure.   These
values   are   developed   for   both   Inhalation  (RfD^j)   and   oral   (RfD$0)
exposures.

    The  RfD   (formerly AIC)  1s  similar  1n  concept  and  addresses  chronic
exposure.  It  1s an estimate  of  an  exposure  level  that would not be expected
to  cause  adverse effects when  exposure  occurs for a  significant portion of
the llfespan  [see  U.S. EPA  (1980c)  for a discussion  of  this  concept].   The
RfD  Is  route-specific and  estimates  acceptable  exposure  for  either  oral
(RfOrj)  or  Inhalation  (RfOi)  with  the  Implicit   assumption   that  exposure
by other routes Is  Insignificant.

    Composite  scores  (CSs)   for  noncardnogens  have  also  been  calculated
where  data permitted.   These  values  are  used  for   Identifying  reportable
quantities and the methodology  for  their development  1s  explained  1n  U.S.
EPA (1983).

    For  compounds  for which  there 1s  sufficient evidence  of carclnogenlclty
RfD$  and  RfO   values  are  not derived.   For  a discussion  of  risk assessment
methodology for  carcinogens  refer  to  U.S.  EPA  (1980c).   Since  cancer  1s  a
process  that  1s  not  characterized by  a threshold, any  exposure contributes
an  Increment  of  risk.  For  carcinogens,  q-|*s have been computed,  1f appro-
priate, based on oral and Inhalation data if  available.
                                      1v

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                                   ABSTRACT
    In  order   to  place  the  risk  assessment  evaluation  In  proper  context,
refer  to  the  preface  of  this  document.   The  preface  outlines  limitations
applicable  to  all   documents  of  this  series  as  well  as  the  appropriate
Interpretation and use of the quantitative estimates presented.

    The  U.S.  EPA   (1986a)  computed  a  q-|*  for  human  oral  exposure  to
Isophorone  of 4.1xlO~3  (mg/kg/day)"1  based  on  the  Increased  Incidence  of
kidney  and  preputlal  gland  tumors  1n male  rats  In a 2-year  gavage  study
(NTP,  1986).   In the  same  study.  Increased Incidence of liver  tumors  and
tumors of the skin were observed In male mice.

    No data concerning the  potential  carclnogenlclty  of Isophorone following
Inhalation  exposure  were located  1n  the literature.   Therefore,  an  Inhala-
tion q-j* was not calculated.

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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.   Dr.  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 Criteria and Assessment Office
    Cincinnati, OH
                                      v1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
2.


3.










4.






5.
6.





7.
,PPE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND FATE 	
ABSORPTION FACTORS IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS . . .
2.1. ORAL 	
2.2. INHALATION 	
TOXICITY IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS 	
3.1. SUBCHRONIC 	
3.1.1. Oral 	
3.1.2. Inhalation 	
3.2. CHRONIC 	 	
3.2.1. Oral 	
3.2.2. Inhalation 	
3.3. TERATOGENICITY AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS. . . .
3.3.1. Oral 	
3.3.2. Inhalation 	
3.4. TOXICANT INTERACTIONS 	
CARCINOGENICITY 	
4.1. HUMAN DATA 	
4.2. BIOASSAYS 	
4.2.1. Oral 	
4.2.2. Inhalation 	
4.3. OTHER RELEVANT DATA. 	 ...
4.4. WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE 	 	
REGULATORY STANDARDS AND CRITERIA 	
RISK ASSESSMENT 	
6.1. SUBCHRONIC REFERENCE DOSE (RfDs) AND REFERENCE
DOSE (RfD) 	 	
6.2. CARCINOGENIC POTENCY (qi*) 	
6.2.1. Oral 	
6.2.2. Inhalation. . . 	
REFERENCES. . 	 	 ,
NDIX: Oral Summary Table for Isophrone 1n the Male Rat ....
Page
1
3
... 3
... 3
4
4
... 4
... 5
... 5
. . . 5
6
6
. . . 6
7
. . . 8
. . . 9
. . . 9
. . . 9
. . . 9
. . . 12
. . . 12
. . . 12
. . . 13
14

. . . 14
. , , 14
. . . 14
. . . 14
. . . 16
. . . 21
      V11

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                             LIST OF  ABBREVIATIONS
AOI                     Acceptable dally Intake
CAS                     Chemical Abstract Service
CS                      Composite score
ONA                     Deoxyrlbonuclelc acid
Koc                     Soil sorptlon coefficient
MED                     Minimum effective dose
NOAEL                   No-observed-adverse-effect level
NOEL                    No-observed-effect level
PEL                     Permissible exposure limit
ppm                     Parts per million
RfD                     Reference dose
RfD$                    Subchronlc reference dose
RVj                     Dose-rating value
RVe                     Effect-rating value
TLV                     Threshold limit value
TWA                     Time-weighted average

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                      1.   ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND FATE

     Selected   chemical  and  physical   properties  and  environmental   fate  of
 Isophorone  are presented  In Table 1-1.
     In  the  atmosphere,  Isophorone should exist primarily  1n  the vapor phase
 and  1s  expected  to  react with ozone and  photochemically  generated  HO radi-
 cal.   The  atmospheric  half-life  listed  In  Table  1-1  has been  based  on  the
 contribution  of both ozone and  HO  radical  reactions.   It  Is also estimated
 using  an  estimated  ozone reaction  rate  constant  of S.OxlO-16  cmVmole-
 cule-sec  at   25°C,  an  ambient  ozone  concentration   of  IxlO12  molecules/
 cm3,  an  estimated   hydroxyl  reaction  rate  constant  of  8.14X10-11  cm3/
 molecule-sec   at  25°C  and  an  ambient  hydroxyl   concentration  of  8.0x10*
 molecule/cm3   (U.S.  EPA,  1986c).   Considering  Us   relatively  high  water
 solubility,  dissolution  of  Isophorone   Into  clouds  and removal  1n  rainfall
 may  be  significant  fate processes.  The  half-life  of  Isophorone In water  and
 soil was  not  located In the  literature searched;  however,  blodegradatlon  may
 be  an  Important  fate process  both  In water  and  soil  (Tabar et  a!.,  1981).
 Adsorption  to  suspended  solids and  sediments  In water  and  b1oaccumulat1on  In
 aquatic organisms  are not expected  to be  significant  fate  processes.   Based
 on  Us  estimated  K    value  of  25,  Isophorone  should  be  highly mobile  1n
 soil (Swann et al.,  1983) and leaching Into ground water may occur.
0084h                               -1-                              01/26/87

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                                   TABLE  1-1

                   Selected  Chemical  and  Physical Properties
                     and Environmental  Fate of Isophorone
CAS number:

Chemical class:


Molecular weight:

Vapor pressure:


Water solubility:

Log octanol/water
partition coefficient:


B1oconcentrat1on factor:
Soil adsorption
  coefficient:

Half-lives:
  A1r
  Water
  Soil
78-59-1

unsaturated monocycllc
ketone

138.2

0.38 mm Hg at 20°C
0.44 mm Hg at 25°C

12.000 mg/i at 20°C
2.22 (estimated)
1.7 (estimated)

7, bluegUl sunflsh
(Lepomls macrochlrus)
25 (estimated)
32 minutes (estimated)
NA
NA
Verschueren, 1983
U.S. EPA, 1980a

U.S. EPA, 1976
U.S. EPA, 1986b
Callahan et al.,  1979

U.S. EPA, 1980a
Lyman et al., 1982
U.S. EPA, T986c
NA
NA
NA = Not available
0084h
       -2-
             01/26/87

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               2.  ABSORPTION IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
 2.1.    ORAL
    Quantitative data regarding  the  absorption of  Isophorone  from the oral
 route  of administration  could  not be  located In  the  available  literature.
 Isophorone  Is  absorbed  by the gastrointestinal tracts of rats and  rabbits as
 Indicated  In  a  study  by  Dutertre-Catella  et al.   (1978),  where unchanged
 Isophorone and metabolites  were detected In the urine of rats and  rabbits 24
 hours  after  oral dosing with  Isophorone.
 2.2.    INHALATION
    Quantitative data regarding the absorption of  Isophorone from the  Inha-
 lation  route could not be  located 1n  the  available literature.   Absorption
 of  Isophorone  after  Inhalation can be  Inferred from studies by Smyth et al.
 (1942)  and  Hazelton  Labs,  Inc.  (1968)  that  show  systemic toxldty following
 Inhalation exposure to Isophorone.
0084h                               -3-                              09/04/86

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                3.   TOXICITY IN HUMANS AND EXPERIMENTAL  ANIMALS
3.1.   SU8CHRONIC
3.1.1.   Oral.  AME,  Inc.  (1972a) fed  groups  of 20  male and 20  female  CFE
weanling rats  Isophorone  In their diets at 0, 750,  1500  or  3000  ppm for   90
days  (TWA  doses  of 0, 61.1, 123.1 or  250.5 mg/kg/day,  males;  0,  82.7,  170.4
or  323.8  mg/kg/day,  females).   The  only  effect  observed was a  significant
(p<0.01) decrease  In  mean  body weight gain after 6  weeks In males receiving
250.5  mg/kg/day.    The   parameters   examined  were   appearance,   behavior,
hematology,  clinical   chemistry,  urlnalysls,   organ  weights,  and  gross  and
hlstopathologlcal examination of major organs.
    AME, Inc.  (1972b)  dosed groups of four male  and  four female  beagle dogs
orally with  Isophorone 1n gelatin  capsules at  0,  35,  75 or 150 mg/kg/day  for
7 days/week  for 90  days.  Dogs  treated  with 75 or 150 mg/kg/day  had soft  and
loose  stools.   No effects  on  appearance,  behavior,  hematology,  clinical
chemistry, urlnalysls, organ weights and  pathology  of  organs were  noted  at
any dose level.
    NTP (1986) conducted a  13-week study, 1n  which groups of  10 male  and  10
female Fischer 344/N  rats  and  equal  numbers of  B6C3F1  mice  received Isopho-
rone  1n corn oil  by gavage.   Hats and  mice  received doses  of 0,  62.5,  125,
500  or  1000  mg/kg/day,   5 days/week.    Hlstopathologlcal  examination  was
performed  only on  controls  anc  high-dose  rats and mice.  Rats  treated with
1000  mg/kg/day were  lethargic  after  dosing.    In  addition,  deaths of  one
female  rat and three  female ir.lce at  1000 mg/kg/day  were considered  to  be
compound-related.   There were  no effects or  gross appearance at necropsy  or
hlstologlcal   appearance  of  a  comprehensive selection of organs and tissues
from high-dose rats and mice, when compared with controls.
0084h                               -4-                              01/26/87

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3.1.2.    Inhalation.   In a  study  by Hazelton  Labs,  Inc.  (1968),  groups of
10  male  and  10  female  young adult  Charles River  CD  rats were  exposed to
Isophorone  at  average  dally  air  concentrations  of  0  or  0.208  mg/i   (208
mg/m3),  6 hours/day,  5  days/week  for 4 weeks.  The  effects  observed 1n the
exposed  rats  were transient nasal  bleeding. Increased percentages of lympho-
cytes,  decreased  percentages of  neutrophlls and Increased hemoglobin concen-
tration  In  males  and females.   Significantly lower terminal body weights and
significantly  decreased  absolute  and  relative  liver  weights  of  exposed
males, as compared with  controls, were also  observed.
    An  earlier  subchronlc  Inhalation   study,  using  commercial  samples  of
Isophorone, with  rats  and  guinea pigs,  was conducted by Smyth et al. (1942).
The  U.S.  EPA  (1980a)  has   stated  that  1f  pure  Isophorone had been  used 1n
this  study,  the  air  concentrations  of  Isophorone reported by Smyth  et al.
(1942)  could  not  have been  attained  under  the  conditions employed.  Because
the  results  of  the  Smyth  et al.  (1942)  study are  seriously  compromised,
details  of  this  study will  not  be reviewed here.   Effects  observed  1n  rats
and  guinea  pigs  exposed  to Isophorone  at unspecified  concentrations  were
pale  or  brown  kidneys,  pale   livers,   congested   spleens  and  lungs,   and
discolored bile.
3.2.   CHRONIC
3.2.1.   Oral.   In  the  NTP  (1986)  study,  groups  of 50  male and  50  female
F344  rats  and equal  numbers of B6C3F1  mice were dosed  with 0, 250  or 500
mg/kg  Isophorone  In  corn  oil by gavage.'S  days/week for  103  weeks.   During
the study, body weights  were recorded and  clinical  signs  were noted.   At 103
weeks, survivors were  necropsled, organs were  examined  for gross  lesions and
examined microscopically.  Tumor  Incidences are presented 1n Section 4.2.1.
0084h                               -5-                              09/04/86

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    In  rats,  mean body  weights of  high-dose  males averaged -5%  lower  than
vehicle  controls  after  1  week.   Mean  body  weights  of  high-dose  females
averaged -8%  lower than  vehicle controls  after  week 43.  No compound-related
clinical signs were  noted.   Survival  of  the high-dose group of  male rats was
significantly lower  than vehicle controls after 196 weeks.
    In  the kidneys  of  dosed  male  rats,  tubular  cell  mineralization  was
Increased.  This  lesion,  characterized by  basophlUc  aggregates  of mineral,
was  often  found  In  medullary  collecting  ducts and  occurred  colnddentally
with  lesions  of  chronic nephropathy.   Fatty  metamorphosis  of the  adrenal
cortex  was  observed  to  Increase  In  dosed  male  but  not  female  rats;  this
lesion was most often observed  tn the zona fasclculata.
    In mice,  mean body weights  of  high-dose females  averaged  5/4  lower  than
vehicle  controls  during  the   second  year  of  the  study.   No body  weight
differences were  noted between male treated and control mice.   No compound-
related  clinical   signs  were  noted.   Survival  of  treated  female mice  was
significantly  (p<0.005)  greater than  vehicle  controls.  In males,  survival
was  adversely affected by  fighting.  H1stopatholog1cal  examination of  the
kidneys  of male  mice  revealed a  dose-related  Increase   In  chronic  focal
Inflammation.
3.2.2.   Inhalation.   Ware  (1973)  Indicated that  workers exposed  to  Isopho-
rone  at  levels of 5-8  ppm  for 1  month  complained of  fatigue  and malaise.
When levels were reduced to 1-4 ppm, the complaints ceased.
    Further Information regarding  the effects of  chronic Inhalation exposure
to Isophorone could not be located 1n the available literature.
3.3.   TERATOGENICITY AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS
3.3.T.   Oral.   No  pertinent   data  regarding   teratogenlc  and  reproductive
effects after oral exposure were located 1n the available literature.

0084h                               -6-                              01/26/87

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 3.3.2.    Inhalation.    The  CMA   sponsored   two   Inhalation  teratogenicHy
 studies.   In the first study,  groups  of  12 pregnant Fischer 344 rats and 12
 GDI  mice  were exposed to  Isophorone at 0, 50, 100 or 150 ppm  (0, 141, 283 or
 848  mg/m3)  6  hours/day,  on  days  6-15  of  gestation  (B1o  Dynamics,  Inc.,
 1984).   The animals  were  weighed  and examined externally  on  gestation days
 3,  6,  9,  12 and  16.   On day  16,  the animals  were killed, the number of live
 and  dead fetuses were counted and  the fetuses  were  examined for abnormal-
 ities.
     The  results  Indicated  no  consistent  changes 1n  body  weights  of  dams.
 Food  consumption  for  rats  exposed to  150  ppm Isophorone  was lower than food
 consumption  for  controls.   Food  consumption  for  mice  was  not  reported.
 Signs  of  toxldty observed 1n  rat dams,  especially  those exposed to 100 and
 150   ppm,   were  alopecia,   excessive  lacrlmatlon,   yellow  stains  In  the
 ano-gen1tal  area  and   tan,  yellow  or red material around  the  mouth,  eyes  or
 lower  jaw.   At  least  one of  these signs  was  observed  In  all rats exposed  to
 100  or 150  ppm Isophorone.   Similar  toxic  signs were observed  In  only  two
 mice  exposed to  100  ppm  and  two  mice exposed  to 150 ppm  Isophorone.   The
 only  fetal  effect noted In rats was  a  late  resorptlon  In one  150 ppm Utter
 1n  which  one  rat had  brain  tissue  protruding from  the  cranium.   In  mice,
 exencephaly  was observed   In  two  150 ppm  Utters.   In one  of  those  Utters
 exencephaly  was observed 1n a  later  resorptlon, and  1n the other Utter,  the
 same  abnormality  was   observed  In  two  live  fetuses.   No abnormalities  were
 observed 1n  control  Utters.
0084h                               -7-                              01/26/87

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3.4.   TOXICANT INTERACTION
    Smyth et al.  (1969,  1970)  studied the toxldty of all  possible  pairs  of
27  Industrial   chemicals.  Including  Isophorone.    Female   albino  rats were
given  the  chemicals   by   gavage  and  LD5Qs  were  determined.    Isophorone,
paired with  the other chemicals, did  not  cause the LD5Q to deviate  greatly
from predicted.
0084h                               -8-                              01/26/87

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                              4.  CARCINOGENICITY



 4.1.    HUMAN  DATA



     Pertinent data  concerning  cardnogenldty  of  Isophorone  In  humans  by



 either  oral  or  Inhalation  routes  could  not  be  located  In  the  available



 literature.



 4.2.    BIOASSAYS



 4.2.1.    Oral.   In  an  NTP  (1986)  study,  groups  of  50  male and  50  female



 Fischer  344/N rats  and  equal numbers of  B6C3F1  mice were treated  by  gavage



 with  Isophorone (94-97% pure)  In corn  oil at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg/day,



 5  days/week  for  103 weeks.  Control  groups  of rats  and  mice received  corn



 oil.   At 105 weeks, surviving  animals  were  sacrificed;  complete necropsies



 and  comprehensive hlstologlcal  examinations  were performed  on  all  rats and



 mice  that died during  the study (unless  precluded  by advanced autolysls  or



 cannibalism), that  were  moribund  and killed  during  the  study  or  that  were



 killed  at the end  of the  study.



    After 96  weeks,the  survival of  the high-dose male rats was  significantly



 reduced.   This  decline  occurred   late  enough  In  the  study  so  that  late



 developing  tumors could be  detected.   Results  (Table 4-1)  showed  that  male



 rats  had an   Increased  Incidence   (adjusted  for  Intercurrent  mortality)  of



 tubular  cell   adenoma or  adenocardnoma  (combined.)  of  the  kidney.   These



 effects  on  the kidney were significant  for the  high-dose  group by the  life



 table  test  and  significant  for dose-related  trend  by  the  life  table  and



incidental  tumor  tests,   but  not  significant  by  the  Cochran-Armltage  or



 Fisher  Exact  tests.   The  occurrence  of  kidney tumors  1s  noteworthy .In  that



 kidney  tumors are  rarely  observed In  this  strain  of  rats;  comparison  of



 Incidence In  the  low-dose  group and high-dose group with  historical controls



 (0.4X)  showed a  significant  Increase (p=0.002)  by  the  Fisher  Exact  test.










 0084h                               -9-                              01/26/87

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-------
 In  male  rats,  the Increased  Incidence  of carcinoma  of  the preputial gland
 showed  a significant dose-related  trend  by  all  statistical methods.  Tumors
 of   this  type  have  been   observed  at  a very  low  Incidence  (12/1094)  In
 historical  corn oil  vehicle  control  rats; therefore  NTP  (1986)  stated that
 carcinoma of the  preputlal gland may be  compound-related.   A significantly
 higher  Incidence of adnar cell  carcinoma of  the  pancreas was also observed
 1n  the  high-dose male rats as  compared  with  controls.  Because the histori-
 cal  Incidence of  adnar cell  tumors  In corn  oil  treated  rats 1s relatively
 high,  NTP  (1986)   suggested  that  Isophorone  was  possibly  acting as  a  co-
 cardnogen  or promoter  of  the effect of  corn oil.   There  were  no signifi-
 cantly  Increased  Incidences  of  tumors  observed   In  female rats.   From  the
 results  of  this study,  NTP (1986)  concluded  that  there was some evidence of
 cardnogenlclty  In rats  as  a result  of  the  Increased   Incidence  of renal
 tubular  cell  adenomas and  adenocarclnomas  In  male rats treated  with  250 or
 500  mg/kg/day and  of the  Increased Incidence of  preputlal  gland carcinomas
 1n males  treated with 500 mg/kg/day.
     Results  1n  male mice (see  Table 4-1)  showed  an Increase 1n the Incidence
 of   hepatocellular  adenoma  or  carcinoma   (combined),  and  an  Increase  In
 flbromas,  sarcomas,  flbrosarcomas  or neuroflbrosarcomas  (combined)  of  the
 Integumentary  system  as   compared  with  controls.    These  Increases  were
 significant  when  analyzed  by  the Incidental tumor,  the Cochran-ArmHage  and
 the  Fisher  Exact  tests.   The  Incidence of lymphoma   Ini  male  mice  was
 Increased  significantly  In  the  low-dose  group,   but  not  In  the  high-dose
 group.   There were no significant  Increases  1n  tumor  Incidence  observed  In
 female  mice.   From  these  results,  NTP  (1986)   concluded  that  there  was
 equivocal evidence of cardnogenldty  1n  male mice.
0084H                               -11-                             01/26/87

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4.2.2.   Inhalation.   No  pertinent  data  regarding  the  cardnogeniclty  of
Isophorone   after   Inhalation  exposure   were   located  In   the   available
literature.
4.3.   OTHER RELEVANT DATA
    Isophorone  has  been  examined  for mutagenldty  and genotoxldty  by  CHA
(1984) and  NTP  (1986).   Isophorone was negative In  reverse  mutation  assays,
with  and  without   S-9  metabolic  activation,   using Salmonella  typhlmurlum
TA100, TA1535,  TA1537  and TA98 (NTP. 1986).  CMA  (1984)  found Isophorone to
be  negative In a  forward mutation  assay  using L5178Y/TKf "  mouse  lymphoma
cells  1n the  presence  and absence of S-9  metabolic  activation at  concentra-
tions  of  0.06-9  ng/mi.   At  higher  concentrations  (400-1200  mg/mi),  NTP
(1986) found a  slightly positive response  In the absence  of  S-9 1n the mouse
lymphoma assay.   Isophorone was negative  In the  mlcronucleus test  In  male
and  female  mice,  for  unscheduled  DNA synthesis  In  rat  primary  hepatocytes
(CMA,  1984)  and for chromosome  aberrations 1n  Chinese hamster ovary  cells
with  and without  S-9 metabolic activation  (NTP,  1986).  NTP  (1986)  found  a
positive response   for  sister chromatld  exchange   In  Chinese hamster  ovary
cells In the absence of S-9.
4.4.   HEIGHT OF EVIDENCE
    The NTP  (1986)  study  Is  the  only available one  concerning  the  cardno-
genldty of  Isophorone.    In  this  study,   kidney tumors and  preputlal  gland
carcinomas   1n male  rats  and hepatic and Integumentary  system tumors  1n  male
mice  showed a  significant Increase above  controls.  This evidence  1s  suffi-
cient to place  Isophorone 1n IARC  Group C  and, according to  the  EPA  classi-
fication scheme (U.S.  EPA,  1986d),  Isophorone can  be  placed  1n Group  C,
Possible Human Carcinogen.
0084h                               -12-                             01/26/87

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                     5.  REGULATORY STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

    The  Interim  ambient  water  quality  criteria  Is  5.2  mg/i   (U.S.  EPA,
 1980a).   This  value  Is  based on  an oral  ADI of  0.15 mg/kg/day  that was
 calculated  from a  90-day study  using  dogs that  determined a NOAEL  of 150
 mg/kg/day  (U.S.  EPA,  1980a).   This  criterion  was based  on  Ingestlon  of 2 I
 of water and  6.5 g of  fish and  shellfish/day.
    NIOSH  (1978)  has  recommended a PEL  for  Isophorone of  4  ppm (23  mg/m3)
 as  a  TWA  concentration  for  up  to  a 10-hour  workshlft.    The ACGIH  (1986)
 celling  limit  Is  5  ppm  (-25  mg/m3)  for  occupational exposure.   Both the
 NIOSH  PEL  and  ACGIH  celling  limit are  based on a  report by Ware (1973),
 which  Indicates  that  workers  at  Western  Electric Co.  complained of fatigue
 and  malaise  at  5-8  ppm  (28-45  mg/m3)  but  not  at  1-4  ppm  (6-23 mg/m3).
 The OSHA standard  for occupational  exposure  to  Isophorone Is  25  ppm  (140
 mg/m3) as an  8-hour TWA concentration limit In workroom air  (OSHA, 1981).
    The  Federal  Food,  Drug  and  Cosmetic  Act exempts  Isophorone  from the
 requirement  of  a tolerance when  It Is used as  a solvent and  cosolvent for
 pesticide  formulation  used  before  crops  emerge  from  soil,  and for  post-
 emergent use  on  rice before the  rice begins to  head, and  on sugar and table
 beets  (U.S. EPA, 1974).
0084h                               -13-                             01/26/87

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                              6.   RISK  ASSESSMENT
6.1.   SUBCHRONIC REFERENCE DOSE (RfD.) AND REFERENCE DOSE (RfO)
                                     O
    Isophorone has  been  shown to  be  a carcinogen  1n  animals;  therefore,  1t
Is  not  appropriate for  the  purposes  of  this  document to  derive  acceptable
Intake values.
6.2.   CARCINOGENICITY POTENCY (q^)
6.2.1.   Oral.   In a  recent  U.S. EPA  (1986a)  analysis,  a  q,*  has  been
calculated  using  the data   from  the  NTP  (1986)   study,  which  showed  an
Increase In kidney  tubular  cell  adenomas and carcinomas  and  preputlal  gland
carcinomas  1n  male rats,  and  1n  liver  and  Integumentary system  tumors  1n
male  B6C3F1  mice.   Although  the  Increased Incidence  of  tumors 1n  the  male
mice  was  statistically significant, the  Incidence  of  liver  tumors  In  male
mice  may  be  highly  variable  and   judged  by  NTP   (1986)  to   represent
"equivocal" evidence of carclnogenlclty.   NTP (1986) judged  the Incidence  of
kidney and  preputlal  gland  tumors  In  treated  male rats   to  represent  "some
evidence  of  carclnogenlclty"  because of  the  absence of these  tumors  1n
matched  contemporary   controls  and  the  very  low   Incidence  In  historical
controls.   The  U.S.   EPA  (1986a)  combined   the  Incidences  of  kidney and
preputlal  gland  tumors  1n  male   rats  to calculate  a  human  q *  for  oral
exposure  to  Isophorone  of  4.1xlO~3  mg/kg/day, using  the multistage  model
of  Howe  and  Crump  (1982).  The data  used  In this,  computation  are  presented
1n Table 6-1.
6.2.2.   Inhalation.   No  pertinent data  concerning the  potential   carclno-
genlclty of Isophorone were located 1n the literature;  therefore,  an Inhala-
tion q,* will  not be calculated.
0084h                               -14-     .        .                05/14/87

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                                   TABLE 6-1
                    Cancer Data Sheet for Derivation of q-|*

Compound:   Isophorone
Reference:   NTP,  1986
Specles/straln/sex:  rat,  Fischer  344/N, male
Route/vehicle:  gavage, corn  oil
Length of exposure  (le) =  103 weeks
Length of experiment (LE)  = 105 weeks
Llfespan of  animal  (L) * 105  weeks
Body weight  = 0.'40  kg  (measured)
Tumor site and  type:   kidney  (tubular cell) adenoma or carcinoma; preputlal
                       gland carcinoma
Experimental Doses
or Exposures
(mg/kg/day, 5 days/week)
0
250
500
Transformed Dose
(mg/kg/day)
0
175
350
Incidence
No. Responding/No.
0/48
3/50
8/50
Examined

Unadjusted q-j* * 7.33x10-* (mg/kg/day)-*
Human q-j* = 4.1xlO-3 (mg/kg/day)-1
0084h                               -15-                       .      01/26/87

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                                7.  REFERENCES

ACGIH  (American Conference  of Governmental  Industrial Hyg1en1sts).   1986.
Documentation of Threshold Limit  Values  and  Biological  Exposure  Indices,  5th
ed.  Cincinnati, OH.  p. 333.

AHE, Inc.  (Affiliated Medical  Enterprises,  Inc.).   1972a.   90-Day subchronlc
toxlclty  of  Isophorone  In  the rat.   Final Report.   Prepared for  Rohm  and
Haas Co.  OTS 8d submission Doc. ID 87812179.  Microfiche No. 205975.

AME, Inc.  (Affiliated Medical  Enterprises,  Inc.).   1972b.   90-Day subchronlc
toxlclt.y  of  Isophorone  1n  the dog.   Final Report.   Prepared for  Rohm  and
Haas Co.  OTS 8d submission Doc. ID 87812178.  Microfiche No. 205975.

81o Dynamics, Inc.  1984.  Inhalation  teratogenldty  probe  study  In  rats  and
mice.   Final Report.   Prepared  for   Exxon  Blomedlcal  Sciences. Inc.   QTS
Submission, Microfiche No. 0507219.

Callahan,  M.A.,  M.W.   SUmak, II.U.   Gabel,  et  al.   T979.   Water-related
environmental fate  of 129 priority  pollutants.   Vol.  II.   EPA 440/4-79-029B.
U.S. EPA, Washington,  DC.

CMA  (Chemical Manufacturers  Association).   1984.   Voluntary  Testing Program
under  Section   4  of the  Toxic S.ubstance  Control   Act.   Submission  of  Test
Data. Vol. III.   Isophorone Mutaoenldty Studies, FYI-OTS-1084-0355.
0084h                               -16-             .                01/26/87

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 Outertre-Catella,   H.,   P.L.  Nguyen,  Q.Q.  Dang  and  R.  Truhaut.   1978.



 Metabolic    transformations   of   the   3,5,5-2-cyclohexene-l-one    tMmethyl



 (Isophorone).  Toxlcol.  Eur.  Res.   1(4):  209-216.







 Hazelton  Labs, Inc.  1968.  Assessment and comparison of subacute  Inhalation



 toxldtles  of  three ketones.  Final Report.  Prepared for Exxon Chem. Amers.



 OTS 8d  Submission  Doc ID 878210935.   Microfiche No. 206267.







 Howe, R.B.  and K.S. Crump.  1982.  GLOBAL 82, a Computer Program to Extrapo-



 late  Quanta! Animal Toxldty Data to Low Doses.  Prepared for Office of Car-



 cinogen Standards,  OSHA, U.S. Dept.  of Labor under Contract No. 41USC252C3.







 Lyman,  W.J.,  W.F.  Reehl   and  D.H.  Rosenblatt.    1982.   Chemical  Property



 Estimation  Methods.  McGraw-Hill  Book Co., New York.







 NIOSH   (National   Institute  for  Occupational  Safety  and  Health).   1978.



 Criteria  for  Recommended  Standard...Occupational  Exposure to  Ketones.   U.S.



 DHEH, PHS,  CDC, Rockvllle, MD.  Publ. No. 78-173.







 NTP  (National   Toxicology   Program).   1986.   Toxicology  and  carc^nogenesls



 studies  of  Isophorone  1n  F344/N  rats  and  B6C3F1   mice  (gavage  studies).



 National  Toxicology Program Tech.  Rep.  Ser.  No.  291.   (Also pub!.  as  DHHS



 (NIH) 86-2547)  189 p.







 OSHA  (Occupational  Safety  and  Health Administration).   1981.  OSHA  Safety



and Health Standards.  Code of Federal Regulations.   29 CFR 1910.1000.
0084h                               -17-                             01/26/87

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Smyth, H.F.,  Jr.,  J.  Seaton and L.  Fischer.   1942.   Response  of  guinea pigs



and rats  to  repeated  Inhalation  of  vapors  of  mesltyl  oxide and Isophore.  J.



Ind. Hyg. Toxlcol.  24: 46-50.







Smyth, H.F.,  Jr.,  C.S.  Well, J.S.  West and C.P.  Carpenter.   1969.   Explora-



tion  of  joint  toxic  action:  Twenty-seven  Industrial  chemicals  Intubated  In



rats In all possible pairs.  Toxlcol. Appl. Pharmacol.  14(2):  340-347.







Smyth,  H.F.,  Jr.,  C.S.  Well,  J.S. West  and  C.P.  Carpenter.   1970.   An



exploration  of Joint  toxlcatlon  II equltoxlc  versus  equlvolume  mixtures.



Toxlcol. Appl. Pharmacol.  17: 498-503.







Swann, R.L.,  D.A.  laskowskl,  P.J.  McCall,  K.  VanderKuy and  H.J.  Dlshburger.



1983.   A  rapid method  for  the  estimation of  the environmental  parameters



octanol/water  partition  coefficient, soil  sorptlon  constant,  water to  air



ratio, and water solubility.  Res.  Rev.   85:  17-28.







Tabar, H.H.,  S.A.  Quave,  C.I.  Mashnl and E.F.  Barth.   1981.   B1odegradab1l-



1ty studies  with  priority  pollutant  compounds.    J. Water  Pollut.  Control



Fed.  5.3: 1503-1518.







U.S.  EPA.   T974.    Tolerances  and  exemptions  from tolerances   for  pesticide



chemicals  In  or   on   raw  agricultural  commodities.   Office  of  Pesticide



Program, U.S. EPA.  Federal Register.  39:  37195.







U.S. EPA.  1976.   Investigation  of  selected potential anvlronmental  contami-



nants: Ketontc  solvents.   U.S.  EPA, Office of  Toxic  Substances,  Washington,



DC.  EPA 560/2-76-003.





0084h                                -18-                             01/26/87

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 U.S.  EPA.   1980a.   Ambient Water Quality  Criteria  Document for  Isophorone.
 Prepared  by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,  Environmental
 Criteria  and Assessment Office,  Cincinnati, OH for the Office of  Water Regu-
 lations and Standards,  Washington, DC.   EPA 440/5-80-056.  NTIS  PB81-117673.

 U.S.  EPA.   1980b.   Hazard Profile for Isophorone.  Prepared by  the Office of
 Health  and  Environmental  Assessment, Environmental  Criteria  and Assessment
 Office, Cincinnati,  OH  for  the Office of Solid Waste, Washington,  DC.

 U.S.  EPA.   1980c.   Guidelines and  Methodology  Used  1n  the  Preparation of
 Health  Effect  Assessment  Chapters   of  the  Consent  Decree Water  Criteria
 Documents.   Federal  Register.  45(231): 79347-79357.

 U.S.  EPA.   1983.  Methodology and Guidelines  for Reportable Quantity Deter-
 minations  Based on Chronic Toxldty Data.   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.   1986a.   Health and Environmental Effects  Profile for Isophorone.
 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.   1986b.   MedChem Software Release 3.32,  CLogP3  Graphical  Exposure
Modeling  System (GEMS).  U.S. EPA,  Office of Toxic  Substances,  Washington,
 DC.
0084h               .                -19-                             02/13/87

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U.S.  EPA.   1986c.    Graphical  Exposure  Modeling  System  (GEMS).   Fate  of
Atmospheric Pollutants (FAP).  U.S. EPA, Office of Toxic Substances.

U.S.  EPA.   1986d.   Guidelines  for  Carcinogenic  Risk Assessment.   Federal
Register.  51(185): 33992-34003.

Verschueren, K.   1983.  Handbook  of  Environmental  Data on Organic Chemicals.
Van Nostrand Relnhold Co., New York.

Ware,  G.D.   1973.   Communication  to   chairman  TLV  committee from  Western
Electric Co., Kearny, PA.   (CUed In ACGIH, 1986)
0084H      .                         -20-                             01/26/87

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                                    APPENDIX

               Oral  Summary Table for Isophorone In the Male Rat*
Experimental Effect
Exposure
qi*
           0,  250,  500.            kidney (tubular          4.1xlO-3
           mg/kg/day^             cell) adenoma
           5 days/week            or carcinoma
           for 103  weeks          and preputlal
                                  gland carcinoma
*Source: NTP,  1986;  U.S.  EPA,  1986a
                                  U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency
                                  F:- .•: ,; 5, Library '( SPL- ' •'}
                                  ?...  .  rjcj'afbr;rr.  t.',• ,c-L,  -...jom 1670
                                  Cuioc^o, IL   60uOi
0084h                                -21-                              01/26/87

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