September 1992
HEALTH ADVISORY FOR
DIPHENYLAMINE
(DPA)
AUTHORS
B. Rem Des, Ph.D., DABT
Mary B. Deerdorff, Ph.D.
WeHord C. Roberts, PH.D.
PROJECT OFFICER
Krlshan Khanna, Ph.D.
Offloe of Water
Health and Eootogtcal Crtwta DMaton
Offloe of 8denoe and Technology
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460

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September 1992
HEALTH ADVISORY FOR
DIPHENYLAMINE
(DPA)
AUTHORS
B. Ram Das, Ph.D., DABT
Mary B. Deardorff, Ph.D.
Welford C. Roberts, Ph.D.
PROJECT OFFICER
Krishan Khanna, Ph.D.
Office of Water
Health and Ecological Criteria Division
Office of Science and Technology
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460

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PREFACE
This report was prepared in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the
Department of the Army, Deputy for Environmental Safety and Occupational Health (OASA(IL&E)),
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water (OW), Office of Science and
Technology for the purpose of developing drinking water Health Advisories (HAs) for selected
environmental contaminants, as requested by the Army.
Health Advisories provide specific advice on the levels of contaminants in drinking water at
which adverse health effects would not be anticipated and which include a margin of safety so as to
protect the most sensitive members of the population at risk. A Health Advisory provides health
effects guidelines and analytical methods, and recommends treatment techniques on a case-by-case
basis. These advisories are normally prepared for One-day, Ten-day, Longer-term, and Lifetime
exposure periods where available toxicological data permit. These advisories do not condone the
presence of contaminants in drinking water, nor are they legally enforceable standards. They are not
issued as official regulations, and they may or may not lead to the issuance of national standards or
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).
This report is the product of the foregoing process. Available toxicological data, as provided by
the Army and as found in open literature sources, on the munitions chemical diphenylamine have
been reviewed, and relevant findings are presented in this report in a manner so as to allow for an
evaluation of the data without continued reference to the primary documents. This report has been
submitted for critical internal and external review by the EPA.
I would like to thank the authors, Drs. B. Ram Das, Mary B. Deardorff, and Welford C. Roberts,
who provided the extensive technical skills required for the preparation of this report. I am grateful
to the members of the EPA Tox-Review Panel who took time to review this report and to provide
their invaluable input, and I would like to thank Dr. Edward Ohanian, Chief, Human Risk Assess-
ment Branch, and Ms. Maigarct J. Stasikowski, Director, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, for
providing me with the opportunity and encouragement to be a part of this project
The preparation of this Health Advisory was funded in part by Interagency Agreement (IAG) 85-
PP5869 between the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
(USAMRDC). This IAG was conducted with the technical support of the U.S. Army Biomedical
Research and Development Laboratory (USABRDL), Dr. Howard T. Bausum, Project Manager.
Krishan Khanna, Ph.D.
Project Officer
Office of Water

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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
CONTENTS
Page
TABLES AND FIGURES 	 v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	 vi
I. INTRODUCTION	 1-1
n. GENERAL INFORMATION	H-l
m. SOURCES OF EXPOSURE	 HI-1
IV.	ENVIRONMENTAL FATE	 IV-1
A.	PHOTOLYSIS		IV-1
B.	BIOTRANSFORMATION		IV-1
C.	HYDROLYSIS		IV-2
D.	SORPTION ON SEDIMENT AND SOIL		IV-2
V.	TOXICOKINETICS	 V-l
A.	ABSORPTION		V-l
B.	DISTRIBUTION 		V-l
C.	METABOLISM		V-l
D.	EXCRETION		V-2
VL HEALTH EFFECTS	 VI-1
A.	HUMANS		 VI-1
B.	ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS	 VI-1
1.	Short-term Exposure	 VI-1
a.	Acute 	 VI-1
b.	Primary Irritation, Dermal Sensitization, and Ophthalmologic Effects .... VI-2
c.	Subacute 	 VI-2
2.	Longer-term Exposure	 VI-10
a.	Chronic Studies 		VI-10
b.	Lifetime Studies		VI-15
3.	Reproductive Effects		VT-19
4.	Developmental Toxicity		VI-22
5.	Carcinogenicity		VI-25
6.	Genotoxicity		VI-28
7.	Other Effects 		VI-28
Vn. HEALTH ADVISORY DEVELOPMENT 	 VH-1
A.	SUMMARY OF HEALTH EFFECTS DATA 	 VH-1
B.	QUANTIFICATION OF TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS	 VD-5
1.	One-day Health Advisory		VII-5
2.	Ten-day Health Advisory		VII-6
3.	Longer-term Health Advisory			VII-6
4.	Lifetime Health Advisory		VJI-8
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
C. QUANTIFICATION OF CARCINOGENIC POTENTIAL 	 VII-10
Vni. OTHER CRITERIA, GUIDANCE, AND STANDARDS	 VHI-1
IX.	ANALYTICAL METHODS	 IX-1
X.	TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES	 X-l
XL CONCLUSIONS	 XI-1
XH. REFERENCES 	 XII-1
APPENDIX A: Data Deficiencies, Problem Areas, and Recommendations for Additional
Database Development for Diphenylamine
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
TABLES AND FIGURES
TABLES
Pace
H-l. General Chemical and Physical Properties of Diphenylamine	n-3
V-l.	Metabolites of Diphenylamine in Rat, Rabbit, and Man	 V-3
VI-1.	Mortality and Pathologic Effects in Syrian Hamsters Given Oral Doses of DPA	 VI-5
VI-2. Histopathological Findings in F334 Rats Treated with DPA in Olive Oil for 28 Days . VI-8
VI-3. Summary of Studies: Short-term Exposure of Animals to Diphenylamine	 VI-11
VI-4. Effects Produced in Dogs fed Diphenylamine (DPA) in the Diet	 VI-18
VI-5. Summary Studies: Longer-term Exposure of Animals to Diphenylamine	 VI-20
VI-6. Reproduction Performance of Slonaker-Addis Rats fed DPA	 VI-21
VI-7. Cystic Renal Disease in Neonatal Rats of Dams Exposed to DPA In Utero for 7 Days VI-23
VI-8. Selected Information on Sites and Types of Tumors in Rats Fed DPA up to 734 Days VI-27
IX-1. Recovery of DPA Added to Apples by Direct Bromination Gas Chromatography .... IX-2
IX-2. Gas-Liquid Chromatography Retention Data for Diphenylamine 	 IX-4
FIGURES
Pace
H-l. Self Condensation Reactions of Aniline for Manufacture of Diphenylamine	n-2
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
N,N-Diphenylamine or diphenylamine (DPA), also called N-phenylbenzeneamine, is a crystalline
solid at room temperature and the simplest of the diarylamines. Diarylamines are aromatic organic
compounds with two of the hydrogen atoms of ammonia replaced by aryl groups. Diphenylamine is
practically insoluble in water (30-3S.7 mg/L at 2S°C) but soluble in several organic solvents.
Diphenylamine is produced by self-condensation of aniline in the presence of ferrous chloride,
ammonium bromide, and a small amount of a strong mineral acid. It is a chemically reactive
compound. The U.S. Tariff Commission listed five domestic producers of DPA in 1975 with an
annual production of 18,094 tons. Diphenylamine is also imported.
Diphenylamine is used to stabilize nitrocellulose explosives and celluloid in various gun propel-
lant compositions. It is also used extensively as a dip spray and impregnate of paper wraps to
prevent scald on apples and other fruits, and as an insecticide. Therapeutically, DPA derivatives are
used to treat helminthic infections in animals and humans. Diphenylamine is used in the
manufacturing of dyes, polymers, greases, and oils, in producing industrial antioxidants for rubber,
and as an analytical reagent Diphenylamine has been detected in the effluent of manufacturing
plants in California, in Rhine River water, and in Norwegian rain water. It was also detected in
trace amounts in the ambient air of Geismar, LA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
Monitoring program and Total Diet Program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National
Residue Program found DPA of undetermined concentration in only one fruit sample and one infant
and junior food formula in several thousands of samples tested during 1970-1976.
Only a modicum of data are available on the fate of DPA in the environment. Information about
potential hydrolysis of DPA and photolysis in aqueous solutions are lacking. Rapid microbial
degradation of DPA occurred in a laboratory-model sewage sludge system. Based on its solubility
and calculated vapor pressure, DPA is predicted to volatilize slowly. It is considered to have a
medium-to-low mobility in soils.
Although no specific animal or human data on the absorption and distribution of DPA following
ingestion were located, metabolic studies of DPA suggest that absorption occurs to some extent.
Diphenylamine is rapidly excreted in the urine and is found in the bile of male rats intraperitoneal^
or intravenously injected with the compound. In human urine samples following a single oral dose
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
of DP A, unchanged DPA, 4-Hydroxydiphenylamine (4-HDPA), and 4,4'-Dihydroxydiphenylamine
were detected (there were no adverse effects reported in this study). Glucuronic acid conjugate of 4-
HDPA was the major metabolite found in the urine of rats intraperitoneal^ injected with a dose of
either DPA, 4-HDPA, or N-hydroxydiphenylamine.
Except for some dermal studies in occupational workers, no epidemiological, clinical case
histories, or experimental studies of potential human health effects to DPA exposure are available.
Diphenylamine was not irritating to the skin of humans or rabbits.
Reported oral LDjqS for rats are 1.165 g/kg, 3.2 g/kg, and 2.0 g/kg; for mice 1.75 g/kg; and for
guinea pigs 300 mg/kg. Short-term studies with Sprague-Dawley rats, Syrian hamsters, and
Mongolian gerbils given 400, 600, or 800 mg DPA/kg/day in peanut oil once a day by gavage for 3
days showed that Syrian hamsters are more sensitive to DPA-related mortality and renal pathologic
damage than either the rats or gerbils. These authors suggested a No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
(NOAEL) of 400 mg/kg/day for acute renal pathologic changes (not including papillary necrosis) in
rats. However, in the Syrian hamsters, this dose was a Frank-Effect-Level (PEL) because it
produced 40% mortality and total renal papillary necrosis and splenomegaly in 90% of the animals.
In another gavage study, observed necrosis of renal papilla and pars recta in Wistar rats given 4.1
mM (694 mg) DPA/kg for 3 or 9 days. In mice gavaged once with 600 mg DPA/kg, observed high
mortality and pathological abnormalities of the intestine, kidney, and liver.
In male and female F344 rats (6/group), daily doses of DPA (111, 333, or 1,000 mg/kg/day)
administered in olive oil by gavage for 28 days caused a treatment-related decrease in body weight
gain and in relative organ weights (most notably the liver); depressed erythrocyte and hemoglobin
levels; increased leukocytes, serum albumin, bilirubin, and potassium levels; and renal tubular
degeneration and necrosis, congestion and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen, bone marrow
hyperplasia, and mucosal changes in the forestomach. Based on reduced liver weights and increased
serum alhtunin levels, the Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (LOAEL) for this study is 111 mg/
kg/day, the lowest dose tested. A NOAEL was not identified.
In a 8-month study, investigated the effects of DPA on growth and the anatomy of selected
internal organs in 36 female weanling albino rats fed 0.025, 0.1, 0.5,1.0, or 1.5% DPA in the diet
(corresponding to calculated doses of 27.5,110, 550,1,100, and 1,650 mg/kg/day, respectively) for

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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
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226 days. Dietary levels of 0.5% DPA or more caused a dose-related decrease in body weight gain,
hematogenic granular pigmentation in the liver and kidneys, and focal dilatation of renal tubules with
multiple cystic structures. The study suggested a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated dose of 110
mg/kg/day) for body weight gain and renal pathological changes in female rats.
A lifetime study in which Slonaker-Addis rats (20/sex/group) were fed diets containing 0.001,
0.01, 0.1, 0.5, or 1% DPA (corresponding to calculated doses of 1.1-999 mg/kg/day for males and
0.96-812 mg/kg/day for females) for 2 years showed several DPA-related effects. Levels above
0.1% dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without decreasing food consumption, and at the 0.5
and 1% levels anemia characterized by reduced hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels occurred. Dilated
cystic renal tubules accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis occurred at the 0.1% level or more.
This study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% (calculated dose of 9.6 mg/kg/day). An unpublished report
of this study indicated that levels above 0.5% dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without
decreasing food consumption, and levels at or above the 1% dietary DPA level, anemia characterized
by reduced hemoglobin and erythrocytes occurred. Dilated cystic renal tubules accompanied by
chronic interstitial nephritis occurred at or above the 0.5% level. These results suggest a NOAEL of
0.1% (calculated dose of 100 mg/kg/day).
In a similar study, used a small number of beagle dogs fed a diet containing 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1%
(2.5, 25, and 250 mg/kg/day, respectively) DPA for 2 years and observed decreased body weight
gain at or above the 0.1% DPA level and a possible treatment-related decrease in hemoglobin and
erythrocytes at the 0.1% level Some pathological changes were found in the liver, spleen, kidneys,
and bone marrow at the 1% level Kidney function tests were negative. The study suggested a
NOAEL of 0.01% (calculated dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day). According to an unpublished report of this
study, growth inhibition, decreased blood hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels, and pathological
changes occurred at the 1% level suggesting a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated dose of 25 mg/kg/day).
Renal tubular dilatation and intrarenal cysts in rats were caused by the daily gavage of DPA at
4.1 mM (694 mg) DPA/kg daily for 3-9 days and at 1.6 mM (271 mg) DPA/kg for 1-8 weeks, and
by the continuous ingestion of a diet containing DPA at 2.5% for 3-6 weeks, at 2.5% for 19 weeks,
at 1 .5% or 2.5% for 0.5-12 months, at 2.5% for 12 months, at 1% DPA for 18 months, and at 1%
DPA for 5-20 months. Renal pathologic changes also were observed in male NMRI mice given 1.4
g DP A/kg/day doses by oral gavage for 10 weeks.
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
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Slonaker-Addis rats of both sexes maintained on a diet containing 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5% (100, 250,
and 500 mg/kg/day, respectively) DPA starting at 35 days of age were mated twice and their off-
spring were mated. Average litter size decreased as DPA level in the diet increased. No DPA-
related effects on litter size or survival in female Wistar rats given 1,000 mg/kg/day by oral gavage
during days 7-17 of gestation were found. Renal cystic dilatation of the collecting ducts and
vacuolar degeneration of the proximal tubules were reported in all newborn rats (species not
specified) from dams fed 200 mg DPA/kg/day by gastric tube or 2.5% dietary DPA (corresponding
to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day) during the last 6 days of gestation. In a later study, the
DPA-related effects on the kidney of second generation Sprague-Dawley rats was attributed to an
unidentified contaminant chromatographically isolated from DPA. This contaminant was given to
dams by gastric tube at 50 jig/day in 2 mL of 70% ethanol (calculated to be 0.5 mg/kg/day) during
the last 6-7 days of gestation. No significant cystic changes occurred in newborns from dams
intragastrically intubated with chemically pure DPA (20 mg DPA/rat in 2 mL of ethanol; calculated
to be 200 mg/kg/day).
Diphenylamine has been shown to be noncarcinogenic in Sprague-Dawley rats given a single oral
dose of 300 mg DPA/kg over a 6-month period and in Slonaker-Addis rats given daily DPA in the
diet at concentrations of 0.001-1% over a 2-year period. Also, no evidence of dietary DPA-induced
carcinogenicity occurred in mice over a 92 week period. Negative results were obtained in a
bioassay involving in vivo exposure of Syrian hamster fetuses to DPA and in vitro culture of exposed
fetal cells to observe neoplastic transformation.
Diphenylamine tested negative in the Ames reverse mutation assay in 5. typhimurium strains
TA98, TA100, TA1000, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, C3076, D3052, and G46 with and without S9
activation as well as in E. coli strains WP2 and WP2uvrA- with or without S9 activation. Diphenyl-
amine also tested negative in isolated mouse lymphoma cells with S9 activation and did not cause
unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes.
No suitable study was found for the determination of the One-day HA for a 10 kg child. There-
fore, the Ten-day HA of 1.0 mg/L for a 10 kg child is recommended as a conservative estimate for
the One-day HA. The Ten-day HA was based on a 28-day feeding study in rats from which a
LOAEL of 111 mg/kg/day was derived based on reduced weights of liver, kidney, and spleen. The
Longer-term HAs of 0.3 mg/L for a 10 kg child and 0.9 mg/L for a 70 kg adult were based on a
ix

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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
chronic feeding study in dogs from which a NOAEL of 2.5 mg/kg/day was derived based on the
absence of growth retardation and adverse hematological effects. The Lifetime HA of 0.2 mg/L was
based on a drinking water equivalent level of 1.0 mg/L, which was derived from a reference dose of
0.03 mg/kg/day. Hie above mentioned dog study was used for the derivation of the Lifetime HA.
Diphenylamine is classified as Group D: not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. However,
chronic/lifetime bioassays in several mammalian species and the lack of mutagenicity provide more
useful information to the risk assessor than a Group D classification chemical with no bioassay data.
A specific method for analyzing DPA in water was not found in the available literature. A gas
chromatography method for recovering DPA in apples, and a method for determining nitrate esters,
stabilizers, and plasticizers including DPA using gas-liquid chromatography have been reported. No
specific DPA water treatment methods were located in the literature. The U.S. EPA carbon-
adsorption isotherm for the adsorption of DPA on activated carbon is 120 mg/g.
A comparison report, Data Deficiencies, Problem Areas, and Recommendations for Additional
Database Development for Diphenylamine (Appendix A), summarizes the scope of existing data
reviewed for this HA. Hie report delineates the areas where additional data or a clarification of
existing data would be appropriate for a revision of this HA.
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I. INTRODUCTION
The Health Advisory (HA) Program, sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology (OST),
provides information on the health effects, analytical methodology, and treatment technology that
would be useful in dealing with the contamination of drinking water. Health Advisories describe
nonregulatory concentrations of drinking water contaminants at which adverse health effects would
not be anticipated to occur over specific exposure durations. Health Advisories contain a margin of
safety to protect sensitive members of the population.
Health Advisories serve as informal technical guidance to assist Federal, State, and local officials
responsible for protection of public health when emergency spills or contamination situations occur.
They are not to be construed as legally enforceable Federal standards, and they are subject to change
as new information becomes available.
Health Advisories are developed for One-day, Ten-day, Longer-term (approximately 7 years, or
10% of an individual's lifetime), and Lifetime exposures based on data describing noncarcinogenic
endpoints of toxicity. Health Advisories do not quantitatively incorporate any potential carcinogenic
risk from such exposure. For substances that are known or probable human carcinogens, according
to the Agency classification scheme (Group A or B), Lifetime HAs are not recommended. The
chemical concentration values for Group A or B carcinogens are correlated with carcinogenic risk
estimates by employing a cancer potency (unit risk) value together with assumptions for lifetime
exposure and the consumption of drinking water. The cancer unit risk is usually derived from the
linearized multistage model with 95% upper confidence limits. This provides a low-dose estimate of
cancer risk to humans that is considered unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk in excess of the stated
value. Excess cancer risk estimates may also be calculated using the one-hit, Weibull, logit, and
probit models. There is no current understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in cancer to
suggest that any one of these models is able to predict risk more accurately than another. Because
each model is based upon differing assumptions, the estimates that are derived can differ by several
orders of magnitude.
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H. GENERAL INFORMATION
N,N-Diphenylamine or diphenylamine (DPA), also called N-phenylbenzeneamine, is the simplest
of the diarylamines, which are aromatic organic compounds with two of the hydrogen atoms of
ammonia replaced by aryl groups (Kirk-Othmer, 1978). It is manufactured by self-condensation of
aniline in the presence of ferrous chloride, ammonium bromide, and a small amount of a strong
mineral acid such as anhydrous hydrochloric acid, to yield aniline hydrochloride. Aniline hydro-
chloride is then heated with aniline to yield DPA. The overall reactions for the manufacture of DPA
are presented in Figure II-1.
DPA is a crystalline solid compound at room temperature with a floral odor and is practically
insoluble in water but soluble in several organic solvents. Selected physical and chemical properties
of DPA are presented in Table II-l. Diphenylamine is a chemically reactive compound (Kirk-
Othmer, 1978; Zbozinek, 1984). It forms salts with strong acids. The hydrogen atom attached to
nitrogen can be replaced by alkali metals. For example, it reacts with metallic aluminum to form
aluminum diphenylamide. With formaldehyde it forms tetraphenylmethylenediamine, and with
acetone it reacts to form a variety of products depending upon experimental conditions. It can be
oxidized with potassium permanganate to form tetraphenylhydrazine. & is easily dehydrogenated to
form caibazole. Reaction with sulfur produces phenothiazine. Nitration usually gives rise to a
trinitro derivative while reaction with nitrous acid produces diphenylnitrosamine, and halogenation
yields a tetrahalo derivative.
The United States (U.S.) Tariff Commission listed five domestic producers of DPA in 1974 with
an annual production growing modestly from 14,340 tons in 1966 to 18,094 tons in 1974 (Kirk-
Othmer, 1978). Imports through major U.S. ports in the yean 1981,1982, and 1983 were 100,000,
550,000, and 610,000 pounds, respectively (U.S. EPA, 1985).
DPA is used in the manufacture of dyes, in stabilizing nitrocellulose explosives and celluloid, in
various gun propellant compositions, in the production of industrial antioxidants for rubber, poly-
mers, greases and oils, and as an analytical reagent in the detection and determination of nitrate,
chlorate and other oxidizing ions. DPA is extensively used as a dip spray or impregnate of paper
wraps to prevent storage scald in apples and other fruits and as an insecticide for preservation of
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Figure II-1. Self Condensation Reactions of Aniline for Manufacture of Diphenylamine
I.	QHjNHj + HC1 -» QHjNHjHCl
300°C
n. C6H5NH2HC1 + C6HjNH2 (QfQjNH + NH.C1
m. NH4CI + QHjNHj -> QHjNHjHCl + NH3
SOURCE: Adapted from Kirk-Othmer (1978).
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
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Table II-1. General Chemical and Physical Properties of Diphenylamine
Property
Value/Description
CAS Number
Synonyms
Molecular Weight
Empirical Formula
Structure
122-39-4
N,N-Diphenylamine, N-Phenylaniline, N-
Phenylphenate, Phenylbenzeneamine, Anilinobenzene,
Big Dipper, Scaldip, No Scald
169.23
C12HuN
I
H
Physical State
Melting Point
Boiling point
Specific gravity (25°Q
pK.
Heat of combustion
(kJ/M)
Vapor pressure (mm Hg)
Octanol/water partition
coefficient (K^J
Solubility characteristics
Water
Organic solvents
Crystalline manoclinic leaflets, Colorless to grayish
solid
52.8-55°C
302°C
1.159
0.78; 0.8
6409.5 at 25°C
1 at 108.3°C
3.50; 3.42; 3.37
30-35.7 mg/L at 25°C
Ethyl alcohol 44 g/L; Methyl alcohol 57.5 g/L; Very
soluble in acetone and benzene
SOURCE: Adapted from Budavari, 1989; Zbozinek, 1984; U.S. EPA, 1985; Sweet, 1987; Kiric-
Othmer, 1978; Clayton and Clayton, 1981; Perry and Chilton, 1973; Eadsforth and Moser, 1983; Rao
and Hayon, 1975.
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flowers and vegetables. Diphenylamine and some of its complex derivatives are used to treat
animals and humans with parasites such as several species of Schistosomes, intestinal Nematodes,
and Filariae (Budavari, 1989; Kirk-Othmer, 1978; Crawford et cd., 1983; Doshi et al., 1977; Shapiro
etal., 1986; Singh et al., 1981; Vaidya et al., 1977; Liu et al., 1983; Minggang, 1985; Gang and
Quan, 1986).
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m. SOURCES OF EXPOSURE
The U.S. EPA STORET database contains gross analysis data from 152 observations for DPA,
which ranged from 3.2-10.0 pg/L with a mean concentration of 5 jig/L (U.S. EPA, 198S). Diphenyl-
amine was detected in the effluent from a Lake Tahoe plant at a level of 1.54 ppt and in the effluent
from a Ponoma, CA, plant at 9.77 ppt (Pahien and Melton, 1979 cited in U.S. EPA, 1985).
Diphenylamine was also detected in raw Rhine river water at 1 ppb (Piet and Morra, 1983 cited in
U.S. EPA, 1985) and in rain water in Norway, which indicates the existence of DPA in ambient air
of Norway (Lunde et al„ 1977 cited in U.S. EPA, 1985). Only trace but not quantified amounts of
DPA were detected in a few samples of ambient air in Geismar, LA, area (Pellizzari, 1978 cited in
U.S. EPA, 1985).
Pesticide residue levels monitored by Federal Programs in American Foods were reported
(Duggan et al., 1983). Examination of 33,000 domestic and >18,000 imported samples by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Monitoring Program for raw agriculture commodities,
>15,000 red meats and 11,000 poultry samples by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National
Residue Program, and an unspecified number of samples of ready-to-eat foods by FDA's the Total
Diet Program revealed DPA of undetermined concentration in only one fruit sample, and only one
infant and junior food formula during 1970-1976.
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IV. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Very little information is found in the published literature on the environmental fate of DPA in
water, soil, or air. The transport of DPA in the aquatic environment may be considered to depend
on its solubility, volatility, adsorption to particulate matter and sediment, and bioaccumulation by
aquatic organisms. Atmospheric chemical removal of DPA may be possible but pertinent data are
not available. Cupitt (1980) calculated the dissolution half-life in the atmosphere of about 1.3 years
for DPA based on an assumed annual rain fall of 0.75 m and a homogeneous atmosphere of 8 km
height.
A.	PHOTOLYSIS
DPA discolors when exposed to day light and air, becoming tan and then blue to purple,
suggestive of the formation of N-Phenylbenzoquinoneimine, indophenol, possibly indoaniline, and
Benzidine Blue and its N,N'-derivatives (Chemley Products Company cited in Zbozinek, 1984).
Direct photolysis of DPA in a variety of organic compounds such as ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons,
and several dyes has been demonstrated, but information on photolysis in aqueous solutions with
environmental photosensitizes such as humic and fulvic acids is not available (U.S. EPA, 1985).
B.	BIOTRANSFORMATION
Microbial degradation in a laboratory model sewage sludge system produced approximately 96%
degradation of DPA (65% within the first 6 hours) whereas controls using sterilized activated sludge
produced no significant degradation (U.S. EPA, 1985). Metabolites of degradation were identified
by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and they consisted of 4-hydroxyphenylamine and one
of its isomers, aniline, and indole. Ten of 25 species of microorganisms obtained from sources such
as lake water, garden soil, sewage, cow manure, and stock cultures were found to generate N-nitro-
sodiphenylamine after 2-10 days of incubation with DPA in a mineral salt medium (Ayanaba and
Alexander, 1973). Although acidic conditions favor nitrosation, many reports indicate that
nitrosamines can be formed at neutral pH in the presence of microorganisms (U.S. EPA, 1985;
Ayanaba and Alexander 1973; Hawkswoith and Hill, 1971).
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Some investigators have shown that DPA moderately bioaccumulates in fathead minnows and
other fish (U.S. EPA, 1985).
C.	HYDROLYSIS
No specific data on the hydrolysis of DPA in the environment were available in the published
literature.
D.	SORPTION ON SEDIMENT AND SOIL
A slow environmental volatilization was predicted for DPA based on its solubility and a
calculated vapor pressure (U.S. EPA, 1985). No experimental aqueous evaporation studies are
available for DPA. Based on experimental determinations, soil organic matter-water distribution
and soil organic carbon-water distribution (K^) values for DPA in four loam soils (organic
matter content of 1.09-4.25%) were about 350 and >1,000, respectively (Briggs, 1981). DPA was
thus considered to have a medium-to-low mobility in soils which means that some partitioning
between the water and sediment matrices of the aquatic environment may occur although the
quantitative significance of adsorption is difficult to ascertain.
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September 1992
V. TOXICOKINETICS
A.	ABSORPTION
Specific data relating to the absorption of DPA following oral administration in experimental
animals or in humans were not found in the published literature. However, metabolic studies with
DPA in rats, rabbits, and humans following oral or intraperitoneal doses suggest that absorption does
occur to a certain extent (Alexander et al., 1964,1965).
B.	DISTRIBUTION
Data on the distribution of DPA or its metabolites following oral or other routes of administra-
tion in animals or in humans were not found in the available literature.
C.	METABOLISM
Ether extracts of the urine samples of two human individuals orally administered with a single
dose of 100 mg DPA contained unchanged DPA, 4-Hydroxydiphenylamine (4-HDPA) and 4,4'-
Dihydroxydiphenylamine (DHDPA); 2-Hydroxydiphenylamine (2-HDPA) was not detected either
before or after hydrolysis of the urine. DPA could be extracted from the urine with ether prior to
but not after acid hydrolysis, and therefore, it is believed to have been excreted in the urine in a non-
conjugated form (Alexander et al., 1965).
In an unpublished report of a feeding study (Booth, 1963) weanling rats (20/sex/group, species
not identified) were maintained on dietary levels of DPA at 0.025, 0.1, 0.5, and 1-5% for 226 days,
tiie following metabolites were identified in the urine and feces: 4-HDPA, its sulfate and glucuranide
conjugates, and DHDPA. DHDPA was also formed following in vitro incubation of rat liver extract
with DPA.
A glucuronic acid conjugate of 4-HDPA was identified as the major metabolite in the urine of
rats administered intrapertoneally with single 5 mg doses of DPA, 4-HDPA, or N-hydroxydiphenyl-
amine (Alexander, 1964). Neither N-hydroxydiphenylamine, 2-HDPA, nor unchanged DPA were
detected in the hydrolyzed urines. However, in a more detailed publication, the presence of 4-HDPA
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September 1992
and DHDPA was confirmed in acid or beta-glucuronidase hydrolysed rat urine (Alexander et al.,
1965).
Alexander et al. (1964) identified 4-HDPA and trace amounts of 2-HDPA in the ether extract of
the unhydrolyzed as well as ^-glucuronidase hydrolyzed urine of a male rabbit orally dosed with a
total of 5 g of DPA in 1 g doses over 9 days. Additionally, the potassium salt of the sulfate ester of
4-HDPA was identified indicating direct hyroxylation of the aromatic ring followed by conjugation
in this species. Only in the rabbit urine sample, the ether extracted urine, and the ether extract of
aqueous residue treated with (^-glucuronidase but not acid, contained 2-HDPA as a minor component
(Alexander et al., 1965). The two crystalline compounds identified in the urine of rabbits were
diphenylamine 4-methyltri-O-acetylglucuronidate and potassium diphenylamine 4-sulfate. The
isolation of these conjugates suggests that N-hydroxylation occurs in the rabbit. Further details of
the metabolites of DPA in rat, rabbit, and man are presented in Table V-l.
An unpublished report (Booth, 1963) identified 4-HDPA, its sulfate and N-glucosiduronide, and
DHDPA in beagle dogs (2/sex) placed on diets containing 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0% (2.5, 25, and 250
mg/kg/day, respectively) DPA in the diet for 2 years. 4-HDPA also was found in dog bile after acid
hydrolysis.
Formation of diphenylnitrosamine, a carcinogen (NCI, 1979), was demonstrated in stomach
contents of rats orally administered with a single 5 mg dose of DPA combined with 10 mg of
sodium nitrite (Galea et al., 1975) or with a solution of sodium nitrite (Sander et al., 1968).
D. EXCRETION
Rapid excretion of DPA was indicated in male rats following administration with one intra-
peritoneal injection of 14C-DPA (Alexander et al., 1965). About 75% of the administered
radioactivity was recovered in the urine samples collected at 24-hour intervals, for 48 hours.
Administration of "C-DPA at 5 mg/kg by slow intravenous injection of a 50% aqueous ethanol
solution (2 mg/mL) to male rats with cannulated bile ducts resulted in excretion of 25% of the
radioactivity in bile samples collected at 1-hour intervals over 6 hours (Alexander et al., 1965).
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Table V-l. Metabolites of Diphenylamine in Rat, Rabbit, and Man*
METABOLITE

RABBIT


RAT

MAN
A
B
C
D
E F
G
A B
Diphenylamine
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
2-Hydroxydiphenylamine
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
4-Hydroxydiphenylamine
+
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
4,4 '-Dihydroxydiphenylamine
+
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
A— urinary ether extract; B— ether extract of acid hydrolysed aqueous residue from A; C— ether
extract of aqueous residue from A after treatment with ^-glucuronidase; D— ether extract of acid
hydrolysed urine; E— ether extract of P-glucuronidase-treated urine; F— ether extract of acid
hydrolysed bile; G— ether extract of ji-glucuronidase-treated bile.
Identified by thin-layer chromatography
SOURCE: Adapted from Zbozinek (1984).

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September 1992
VI. HEALTH EFFECTS
A.	HUMANS
No epidemiological, clinical case histories, or experimental studies dealing with the adverse
health effects of exposure to DPA were located in the published literature. Three reports investi-
gated possible dermal effects of DPA but none were found (Calnan, 1978; Bazin et al., 1980;
Slovak, 1980).
The effect of DPA on human skin was investigated in occupational workers working in a quality
control laboratory of a chemical firm in Leics, England (Slovak, 1980). None of the 16 men
subjected to a patch test with 1% DPA developed an immediate or delayed sensitivity reaction.
Bazin et eU. (1980) conducted a patch test on an occupational worker, a 44-year old woman who
worked in a circuit breaker factory and handled metals, plastics, and greases that contained DPA.
Patch tests (details of testing not given) were negative for 1% DPA. Routine patch testing of 1,012
eczema patients with 1% DPA did not reveal appreciable dermatilic hazard as reported by Calnan
(1978) but three positive reactions were attributed to a cross reaction with paraphenylenediamine
(PPDA). The positive reactions were in three patients allergic to PPDA. Closed-patch skin testing
with 1% DPA in petrolatum produced no irritation in human subjects (Epstein, 1976 cited in
Opdyke, 1978).
B.	ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS
1; Short-term Exposure
a. Acute
Various investigators reported acute oral LD50s for rats to be 1.165 g/kg (Levenstein, 1976 cited
in Opdyke, 1978), 3.2 g/kg (Epstein et al., 1967 and Volodchenko, 1975 cited in Opdyke, 1978), and
2.0 g/kg (Korolev et al., 1976); for mice to be 1.75 g/kg (Korolev et al., 1976); and for guinea pigs
to be 300 mg/kg (Sweet, 1987). Premartem effects consisted of central nervous system effects and
cyanosis in both mice and rats. An oral dose of 300 mg DP A/rat was lethal to 2/20 rats in 30 days
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Health Advisory for Diphenyiamine
September 1992
(Griswold et al., 1966 cited in Opdyke, 1978). However, 7,500 mg DP A/kg was the lowest dose
reported as toxic to pregnant rats (NIOSH, 1976, cited in Opdyke, 1978).
Kronevi and Holmberg (1979) gave 600 mg DPA/kg once by oral gavage to 150 female mice
and observed 31% mortality within 5 days of treatment. Another nine animals died within 10 days
of the treatment. However, 95 animals survived 1 month without apparent symptoms of DPA
induced injury. Microscopic examinations of selected organs revealed abnormalities in intestine,
kidney, and liver, but it was not clear when the animals were necropsied. No further details were
provided.
Formation of methemoglobin in considerable amounts was reported in a cat orally administered
with a single dose of an aqueous suspension of DPA at 169 mg/kg (Alexander et al., 1965 cited in
Opdyke, 1978).
b.	Primary Irritation. Dermal Sensitization, and Ophthalmologic Effects
Diphenyiamine was not irritating when applied full strength to intact or abraded skin of rabbits
(Levenstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978). Details of the study were not provided.
c.	Subacute
In a 3-day study, Lenz and Carlton (1990) administered daily, single-doses of DPA (chemical
purity not indicated) in peanut oil by gavage to male Sprague-Dawley rats (10/group) at 400, 600, or
800 mg/kg/day. A control group (10 rats) received only peanut oil. Moribund animals were
sacrificed and necropsied during the study period, and all surviving animals were sacrificed and
immediately necropsied 24 hours following the third dose. None of the rats in any dose group
became listless and moribund during the 3-day study. Bilateral renal cortical pallor was observed at
necropsy in one rat at the 600 mg/kg/day dose. Two of ten rats at the 800 mg/kg/day DPA treat-
ment level developed renal papillary lesions consisting of focal, apical, subepithelial rarefaction of
the interstitial matrix, pyknosis of interstitial cells and endothelial cells, and occasional eosinophilic
ghosts of cells. However, these lesions were not associated with the induction of renal papillary
necrosis or necrosis of the pars recta. A gavage needle caused a single gastric perforation in the
glandular fundus of another rat in the 600 mg/kg/day treatment group. In this study, a No-Observed-
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September 1992
Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) of 400 mg/kg/day is suggested for renal pathologic changes. How-
ever, the actual NOAEL may be higher because of the small number of animals in each group and
the low incidence of renal effects at the 600 mg/kg/day level (1/10) and the 800 mg/kg/day level
(2/10). In contrast to these findings in Sprague-Dawley rats, Powell et al. (1985) found renal papil-
lary necrosis and necrosis of the pars recta in Wistar rats.
In attempts primarily to delineate the histopathology of kidney lesions, Powell et al. (1985) gave
male Wistar rats daily suspensions of 4.1 mMol DPA/kg in 1.25% methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose
alone (vehicle control), or distilled water by gastric gavage for 3 or 9 days. This dose corresponds
to 694 mg DPA/kg/day. After three doses, 18-hour urines were obtained on four rats per group
before they were sacrificed for renal histological examinations. After urine was collected from an
additional four rats per group following the ninth dose, the rats were sacrificed, and their kidneys
were examined. No significant change in body weight gain was observed in treated animals after
three doses, but body weight gain compared to controls was depressed (p <0.05) after nine days.
Although urinary volume and osmolality tended to be low, they were not significantly different from
controls after 3 or 9 days of treatment The authors noted, however, that control animals also
demonstrated poor urine concentrating abilities (normal osmolality considered to be 1,500-2,000 .
mOsm/kg) but without any observed morphological abnormalities. The significantly elevated protein
excretion in urine observed in treated animals at both time periods was attributed by the authors to
excretion of cellular debris rather than glomerular leakage. Compared to control rats, treated rats
excreted significantly more chloride at the end of both treatment periods and more sodium and
potassium after nine days. Histological kidney examinations revealed wide spread necrosis after both
3 and 9 days of DPA treatment After three doses, necrosis occurred in the pars recta of the
proximal tubules with extensions into the mid to outer cortex, papilla, limbs of Henle, capillaries,
and interstitial cells. Tubular lumens frequently contained amorphous casts of debris. After nine
days, frank papillary necrosis was evident in some animals and proximal tubular necrosis was still
present but with areas of regeneration. These results contrast with those of Lenz and Carlton's
(1990) who found no renal papillary necrosis or necrosis of the pais recta in Sprague-Dawley rats
given as much as 800 mg DPA/kg/day by gavage for 3 days. This 3 or 9 day study using a single
dose level of DPA is not useful for the derivation of HA values, although some quantitative estimate
of the histology of kidney lesions is presented.
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Using the same experimental protocol as described previously, Lenz and Carlton (1990) observed
more severe effects in male Syrian hamsters (10/group) than in Sprague-Dawley rats. Within 12
hours after the second dose, all animals in the 600 and 800 mg/kg/day treatment groups were listless
and moribund (Table VI-1). Four hamsters at the 400 mg/kg/day level became listless and moribund
before terminal sacrifice. Four hamsters at 400 mg/kg/day, seven at 600 mg/kg/day, and six at 800
mg/kg/day showed total renal papillary necrosis, which included all elements of the renal papilla—
interstitial cells, vasa recta, thin limbs of Henle, and collecting tubules. Two hamsters at the 600
mg/kg/day dose developed focal intermediate renal papillary necrosis involving the distal, lateral, and
apical subepithelial regions of the papilla. On gross pathologic examination, DPA had induced a
diffuse, dull-brown discoloration of the kidney extending from the capsular surface through the
cortex and outer medulla, and a yellow-brown discoloration of the renal papilla in the 600 and
800 mg/kg/day treatment groups. Other gross pathologic lesions were found in the stomach and
spleen. One hamster at 600 mg/kg/day showed one or more gastric ulcers, visible as punctate 2-4
mm diameter black foci. Splenomegaly was observed in nine of ten hamsters but only at die
400 mg/kg/day dose. Although adverse kidney effects occurred at the lowest dose tested,
400 mg/kg/day, this DPA dose also produced 40% mortality; therefore, a LOAEL or NOAEL is not
identified. The 400 mg/kg/day dose is a Frank-Effect-Level (FEL) for this study.
Following the same protocol as for rats and hamster, Lenz and Carlton (1990) administered DPA
(purity not reported) to male Mongolian geibils (10/group) at 400, 600, or 800 mg/kg/day for 3 days.
A control group (10 gerbils) received only peanut oil. All animals survived for the duration of the
study and were sacrificed and necropsied 24 hours following the third dose. No gross pathologic
lesions or discolorations of the kidney were found. In striking contrast to DPA effects in Syrian
hamsters, histological examinations of the kidney showed no renal lesions, papillary or cortical, in
treated or control gerbils. The results suggest a NOAEL of 800 mg/kg/day in Mongolian gerbils.
Korolev et al. (1976) gave single daily doses of DPA to albino rats at 16, 80, or 400 mg/kg/day
(corresponding to 1/125, 1/25, or 1/5, respectively, of the LDM [2 g/kg]) for 25 days. For the ID*,
studies the investigators perorally administered the DPA in vegetable oil and presumably followed
the same procedure as in this study. They did not report species or number of animals used in this
study. The authors measured erythrocyte, leukocyte, reticulocyte, hemoglobin, and methemoglobin
levels; blood cholinesterase, aldonase, and peroxidase activities; protein fractions in blood serum;
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September 1992
Table VI-1. Mortality and Pathologic Effects in Syrian Hamsters Given Oral Doses of DP A*


Dose Group
(mg/kg/day)

Lesion
400
600
800
Control"
Mortality
4/10°
10/10
10/10
0/10
Total Renal Papillary Necrosis
4/10
7/10
6/10
0/10
Intermediate Renal Papillary Necrosis
0/10
2/10
0/10
0/10
Pars Recta Necrosis
0/10
0/10
0/10
0/10
Brown Kidneys
0/10
2/10
3/10
0/10
Yellow-Brown Papilla
0/10
6/10
5/10
0/10
Pale Renal Cortex
0/10
0/10
0/10
0/10
Gastric Ulcers
0/10
1/10
0/10
0/10
Splenomegaly
9/10
0/10
0/10
0/10
'Diphenylamine (DPA) dissolved in peanut oil vehicle.
•"Vehicle control.
Incidence/number of animals in dose group.
SOURCE: Adapted from Lenz and Carlton (1990)
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September 1992
intensity of urine staining due to DPA products; and at necropsy, the weights of internal organs and
hepatic cholinesterase activity. They reported that statistically significant (p <0.05-0.01) changes
occurred in a considerable number of these measurements at the highest dose (400 mg/kg/day)
compared to controls, but no details were provided. None of the treated animals died. The authors
suggested a LOAEL of 80 mg/kg/day for erythrocyte count and peroxidase activity, and a NOAEL
of 16 mg/kg/day for all clinical chemistry and organ weight measures.
Yoshida et al. (1989) gave single daily doses of DPA by gavage to male and female F344 rats
(6/sex/dose) for 28 days. DPA (98% pure) was dissolved in olive oil and administered at doses of
111, 333, or 1,000 mg/kg/day. A control group received only the vehicle. Body weight and food
consumption were periodically measured during the study period. On the last treatment day, a
number of serum chemistry and hematology parameters (see below) were determined before the
animals were subjected to necropsy. Recovery was studied in two additional groups (6 rats/group)
gavaged with 1,000 mg/kg/day or olive oil (vehicle control) for 28 days after which treatment was
stopped and the animals observed for an additional 14 days. Although food consumption in the two
1,000 mg DP A/kg/day groups was lower than controls, the difference was not significant. Never-
theless, the high-dose males and females showed a decrease in body weight gain during the treatment
period, and the effect persisted for 14 days after treatment ceased in the high-dose recovery group.
No treatment-related mortality occurred in any of the animals.
Among the hematology parameters measured in this study (Yoshida et al, 1989), the authors
reported a significant reduction (p <0.05) in erythrocyte count and hemoglobin in females of the
1,000 mg/kg/day dose group. Hemoglobin was also depressed in high-dose males. Leukocyte count
was elevated in males and females of the high-dose group, and was also elevated in males of the
333 mg/kg/day group. Mean cell volume (MCV) was elevated in the high-dose females. However,
only the DPA effect (Hi hemoglobin and MCV persisted during the 14-day no-treatment period.
Treatment-related effects of DPA on serum chemistry measured in the male rats included an increase
in albumin in all treatment groups, increased bilirubin in the mid- and high-dose groups, and
increased potassium levels and reduced chlorine levels in the high-dose group. Only the potassium
level remained elevated 14 days after treatment was stopped. Females treated with 1,000 mg DPA/
kg/day showed a tendency toward increased total bilirubin.
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September 1992
Treatment-related changes in absolute and relative organ weight, most notably of the liver, occur-
red in male and female rats. The weights of liver, kidney, and spleen were reduced in males at or
above 111 mg DPA/kg/day and females at or above 333 mg/kg/day. Weight reductions in thymus,
testes, and ovaries were found in animals treated at the 1,000 mg/kg/day dose. After 14 days of a
post-treatment recovery period, only the thymus weight had recovered.
The major histopathologic findings are summarized in Table VI-2. In all rats of the 1,000 mg/
kg/day group, slight to moderate renal tubular degeneration and necrosis in the corticomedullary
junction as well as congestion and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen were found on histo-
pathological examination. Mild bone marrow hyperplasia was also found in 100% of the animals in
this group. Less frequent findings at this dose level included necrosis of the renal papilla in one
male and one female, slight to mild renal tubular dilatation with or without protein casts in two
animals of each sex, and mucosal erosion and hyperplasia of the stomach. None of the changes
persisted after treatment was stopped. The above histopathologic effects were absent at lower doses
except for renal tubular degeneration in 17% of the males administered 333 mg/kg/day. The authors
suggested a NOAEL of 111 mg/kg/day and a LOAEL of 333 mg/kg/day for a 28-day period.
However, in view of reduced liver weights in males at 111 mg/kg/day and increased serum albumin
levels, this dose is a LOAEL
Eknoyan et al. (1976) fed finely ground DPA to female Sprague-Dawley rats for 3-6 weeks to
study the early effects of DPA-induced experimental cystic disease. DPA (purity not specified) in
the feed constituted 2.3% by weight of the dietary intake of the animals. Based on Lehman (1959)
assumptions, this concentration corresponds to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day for a young rat
The number of rats was not reported. After a minimal period of 2 weeks, treated rats showed a
pronounced decrease in their ability to concentrate urine; average reduction was 50% compared to
controls. No significant changes occurred in whole-kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR), single-
nephron GFR, end-proximal tubular fluid to plasma inulin (TF/P—.Jl ratio, glucose and bicarbonate
reabsorption, free water clearance, and free water reabsorption. Histological examination showed
dilatation and flattening of the tubular epithelium in the medullary collecting ducts of all treated
animals. In addition, local areas of dilatation in cortical collecting ducts and distal tubules were
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September 1992
Table VI-2. Histopathological Findings in F334 Rats Treated with DPA in Olive Oil for 28 Days"
Findings
Sex
28-Day Dose Groups
Recovery Test
1000"
333
111
0
1000
0
KIDNEY







Tubular degeneration
M
100%c
17%
0
0
0
0
and/or necrosis
F
100%
0
0
0
0
0
Tubular dilatation with or
M
40%
0
0
0
0
0
without protein casts
F
33%
0
0
0
0
0
BONE MARROW







Hyperplasia
M
100%
0
0
0
0
0

F
100%
0
0
0
0
0
SPLEEN







Congestion and extra-
M
100%
0
0
0
0
0
medullary hemato-
F
100%
0
0
0
0
0
poiesis







FORESTOMACH







Mucosal hyperplasia
M
60%
0
0
0
0
0

F
50%
0
0
0
0
0
Mucosal erosion
M
20%
0
0
0
0
0

F
17%
0
0
0
0
0
"LOAEL 111 mg/kg/day.
"Dose (mg/kg/day).
'Effected animals
SOURCE: Adapted from Yoshida et al. (1989).
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September 1992
noted, especially in animals fed DPA for over 4 weeks. Gross cysts were found in less than 10% of
all the kidneys examined. Proteinaceous casts were found within the dilated tubules in some
animals. The data indicated to the authors that the earliest lesion of the kidney in DPA-induced
experimental cystic disease develops in the terminal portion of the collecting duct. Although the
study presents useful information on the microscopic pathology of the kidney, it is not useful for the
determination of HAs because only one dose level of DPA was used.
In a longer-term study with male Wistar rats, Powell et al. (1983) administered daily doses of
1.6 mM DP A/kg (corresponding to 270 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 1-8 weeks. Two rats were
sacrificed at weekly intervals during the 8-week period. The remaining animals (number not
specified) were sacrificed 4 weeks after treatment was stopped. No significant differences between
control and treated rats occurred in food and water intake or body weight gain. Marked proteinuria
developed in DPA treated rats at 4 and 8 weeks, but returned to control levels after 4 weeks of no
treatment. There was no clear DPA effect on urinary volume or osmolality. Macroscopic examina-
tions showed marked splenomegaly in treated rats as well as extramedullary hemopoiesis and
increased hemosiderin in the spleens of most treated rats. After the no-treatment period, the
splenomegaly had reversed, but the extramedullary hemopoiesis had only partially regressed. Histo-
logical examinations of the kidneys revealed focal necrosis of the papillary interstitium, loops of
Henle and capillaries, and focal proximal tubular necrosis with active regeneration. These lesions
first appeared at 1 or 2 weeks of treatment and became more severe as treatment progressed. No
improvement was observed at the end of the no-treatment period.
In a 133-day study, Darmady et al. (1970) fed rats (species, age, and number not specified) a
diet containing 2.5% DPA and performed conventional histological and microdissection studies of
the treated rats at various time intervals over the 19-week period. Based on the Lehman (1959)
assumptions, 2.5% DPA in the diet corresponds to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day in young
rats. The earliest observed DPA-related kidney effect was a flattening of the epithelium of the distal
convoluted and collecting tubules at about 6 weeks. Four weeks later, the lumen of the collecting
tubules had increased in diameter but without cast formation or obstruction. By week 15, defects
were evident in both the distal and collecting tubule and possibly higher up the nephron. Many
more nephrons had degenerated at 15 weeks than at early observation periods, and many tubules had
also become cystic. By the 19th week, the kidney changes were essentially the same qualitatively
but were more extensive.
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Woodhouse et ah (1965) fed male weanling rats ad libitum on a diet to which 2.5% DPA by
weight had been added for 133 days and performed microscopic studies of the kidneys. This DPA
concentration corresponds to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day in young rats (Lehman, 1959).
Species and number of experimental animals were not reported. The earliest DPA-related effect
observed under electron microscopy was degeneration of the renal epithelial cells of the proximal
tubule characterized by a marked increase in electron dense bodies. An increase in the size and
number of electron dense bodies along with swollen mitochondria, vacuolization, and fibroblast
infiltration were also found in the collecting and distal tubules. Glomerular changes were either
absent or minimal.
Twenty male NMRI mice receiving DPA by oral gavage in single doses of 1.4 g/kg once a week
for 10 weeks were necropsied 34 months after treatment began (Kronevi and Holmbeig, 1979). No
control groups were tested. Although five deaths occurred within 2 days of the onset of dosing, ten
animals survived the study period without apparent DPA-related symptoms. Among those mice that
died before terminal sacrifice, severe renal changes were found all over both kidneys. Particularly
evident, were the irregularly narrowed and scarred renal cortices with loss of normal architecture and
dilated (cystic) or atrophic proximal, distal, and collecting tubules. In the liver, activated reticulo-
endothelial cells were found that contained yellowish-brown, iron-negative pigment in their cyto-
plasm. Experimental details for short-term studies are summarized in Table VI-3.
2. Longer-term Exposure
a. Chronic Studies
A number of studies mentioned in the following paragraphs described histopathology of kidney
lesions in rats fed DPA in the diet for 5-18 months. These studies are not amenable to determine
HAs because only one high dose (1,000-2,500 mg/kg/day) was used. The primary aim of these
studies, however, was the delineation of kidney pathology.
Gardner et al. (1976) conducted functional and anatomical studies of the kidney in male
Sprague-Dawley rats fed 1% DPA by feed weight in their diet for 5-11 months or 12-20 months.
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Table VI-3. Summary of Studies: Short-term Exposure of Animals to Diphenylamine
Source
Species
Dose
(mg/kg/day)"
Route
Duration
(Days)'
Opdyke, 1978
Rat
1,165; 2,000;
3,200
Oral
1
Korolev et al.,
1976
Mouse
1,750
Oral
1
Sweet, 1987
Guinea pig
300
Oral
1
Kronevi and
Holmberg, 1979
Mouse
600
Gavage
1
Opdyke, 1978
Cat
169
Oral
1
Lenz and Carlton,
1990
Rat/Hamster/
Geibil
400; 600;
800
Gavage
3
Powell et al.,
1985
Rat
694
Gavage
3 or 9
Korolev et al.,
1976
Rat
16; 80;
400
Oral
25
Yoshida et al
1989
Rat
111; 330;
1,000
Gavage
28
Powell et al.,
1983
Rat
270
Gavage
1 to 8 weeks
Ekoyan et al.,
1976
Rat
2,500
Diet
3 to 6 weeks
Knmevi and
Holmberg, 1979
Mouse
1,400 mg, once/
week
Gavage
10 weeks 1
"Unless otherwise stated
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
The concentration corresponds to a calculated dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day for a young rat (Lehman,
1959). The authors apparently used about 8-20 rats per test, but the exact number was not reported.
At the end of the two feeding periods, neither body weights nor kidney/body weight ratios differed
from controls. The kidney lesions of treated rats were heterogeneous. Dilation and frank cyst
formation occurred in 5-30% of surface nephrons. Elevated intraluminal hydrostatic pressures
occurred in dilated but not nondilated nephrons. No increase in glomerular filtration or decreased
net water reabsorption .were recorded in the dilated nephrons of either treatment group, indicating
that intraluminal pressures were elevated in dilated nephrons. Structural studies revealed some
intrarenal cysts, and adjacent to the cysts, tubules often appeared compressed. Dilated collecting
tubules typically contained debris that appeared to partially occlude the lumen. Narrowing of the
proximal convoluted tubules were observed although none of the studied nephrons was completely
occluded. The results suggested to the authors that partial or intermittent downstream occlusion in
surface nephrons of the rat kidney may be widespread and progressive and is responsible for the
elevated pressures in the dilated nephrons of DPA-treated rats.
Safouth et al. (1970) conducted renal histological studies on Sprague-Dawley rats fed a diet
containing 1.5% DPA by weight (40 rats) for 0.5-10 months or 2.5% DPA by weight (60 rats) for 2-
12 months. Dietary concentrations of 1.5% and 2.5% DPA correspond to a calculated dose of 1,500
and 2,500 mg/kg/day, respectively, for a young rat (Lehman, 1959). A direct relationship between
dose and degree of cystic changes occurred in treated rats at both dose levels, although factors other
than DPA appeared to play a role in cystic development Six of eight rats fed 2.5% DPA evidenced
dilation and early cystic changes of the renal collecting tubules after 2 months of treatment. As the
duration of exposure increased, the lesions became more extensive (although glomeruli remained
normal), and brown pigmentation thought to be hematogenic in origin occurred with increasing
frequency in the cytoplasm of tubular cells. The urinary concentrating capacity of the kidneys was
significantly depressed from controls in the high-dose group after 5 weeks of DPA treatment and
remained depressed after 7 months of DPA exposure.
Kime et al. (1962) studied DPA-induced polycystic renal disease in weanling and adult Sprague-
Dawley rats exposed to 2.5% DPA in the diet for periods up to 12 months. Eight weanling rats of
both sexes and an unspecified number of male adult rats were similarly treated with DPA in the diet
The dietary concentration of 2.5% DPA corresponds to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day in a
young rat and 1,250 mg/kg/day in an older rat (Lehman, 1959). Structural alterations of the kidney,
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
which varied from tubular dilatation to overt cyst formation, developed within 47 days in all rats
(weanling and adult) fed 2.5% DPA in the diet. The severity of the lesions was roughly proportional
to the duration of exposure. In addition, after 1 year, the weanling rats showed decreased creatinine
clearance values and capacity to concentrate urine, which were considered by the authors to be
roughly proportional to the degree of renal morphological changes. The study demonstrated that
prolonged oral administration of 2.5% DPA in the diet will result in the development of an acquired
form of polycystic disease in both weanling and adult Sprague-Dawley rats.
Based on kidney examinations of three Sprague-Dawley rats fed 1% DPA by weight in the diet
(calculated dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day; Lehman, 1959) for 12-18 months, Evan et al. (1976) found that
in the terminal stages of renal disease, few cellular or gross morphological differences exist between
DPA-induced polycystic disease and human medullary cystic disease. Diphenylamine-induced renal
lesions more closely resemble human polycystic disease.
In another study using 1% DPA in the diet (calculated dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day; Lehman, 1959)
of Sprague-Dawley rats, Evan et al. (1978) followed the development of DPA-induced functional and
structural changes in the kidney for up to 18 months. Five rats each from the control and experi-
mental groups were paired and their renal concentrating ability measured at 2,4, 5,10, and 20
weeks. Additional animals were subjected to morphological examinations on 2, 5,10,15, 20, 25,
52, and 78 days of the study. After an initial weight loss, body weights and growth rates in DPA-
treated rats paralleled those of control rats. Urine flow increased and the capability to concentrate
urine (osmolality value) decreased in the treatment group within 2 weeks but did not achieve statisti-
cal significance until 6 weeks. Creatinine clearance, a measure of glomerular filtration, was not
significantly different from control values. The first apparent morphologic changes occurred at
5 weeks and involved cellular hyperplasia described as multilayering of cells, increased numbers of
nuclei, and 3H-thymidine-labeling of nuclei in the medullary collecting ducts. By 10 weeks, some
collecting ducts of treated animals stowed dilation with focal areas of cellular necrosis and some
cast material in the ducts. By 15-20 weeks numerous collecting ducts were dilated and contained
cast material By 24 weeks, frank cysts in the cortex and medulla and necrotic cells along the
collecting ducts were found. Hie severity of the damage greatly increased by 1-2 years with evi-
dence of frank cysts in every segment of the nephron along with a loss of nephrons and areas of
chronic inflammation. However, most of these anomalies had been observed to a lesser degree at 6
months of treatment. Proximal tubule, loop of Henle, and distal tubule were essentially nnmwi
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Twelve chickens fed DPA in their feed for 120 days developed renal lesions (Sorrentino et al.,
1978). The investigators were in determining whether DPA nephrotoxicity, which had been
demonstrated in rodents, was common to a variety of animal species. The birds' feed contained 2%
DPA, and the birds were allowed to eat and drink ad libitum. Food consumption was not reported.
Nine of the chickens died between the 90th and 120th day. The three remaining birds were sacri-
ficed on the 120th day. All the treated chickens weighed 10% less than control birds. Microscopic
examination of the kidneys revealed serious degeneration of the renal tubular epithelium without cyst
formation. More extensive renal degeneration was observed in those chickens that died before
terminal sacrifice. Kidney degeneration was the only DPA-related effect observed.
In a 226-day feeding study with 36 female weanling albino rats (species not specified), Thomas
et al. (1957) evaluated DPA-related effects on body weight gain and gross and histopathology of the
kidney, liver, spleen, adrenal, and heart. The rats (6/dose) were fed 0.025,0.1, 0.5,1.0, or 1.5%
DPA in their diet (corresponding to a calculated dose of 27.5,110, 550, 1,100, or 1,650 mg/kg/day
based on food consumption of 11 g/rat/day reported by the authors and an assumed rat weight of 0.1
kg). Food consumption was similar (10.37-11.45 g/rat/day) throughout the study period for all
treatment and control groups. However, a dose-related inhibition of body weight gain occurred at
dietary levels of 0.5-1.5% DPA. All, but on& animal that was discarded on the 156th day because of
a respiratory infection, survived the experimental period. At necropsy, brown granular pigmentation,
considered by the authors to be hematogenic in origin, was found in Kupffer cells of the liver and in
tubular epithelial cells of the kidneys of all animals fed 0.5% DPA, or more. The quantity of pig-
mentation appeared to be dose-related. The only other DPA-related changes reported involved the
kidney where DPA levels at or above 0.5% resulted in focal dilatation of renal tubules and multiple
cystic structures. These lesions were most conspicuous at the corticomedullary junction of the
kidney. A NOAEL of 0.1% DPA (110 mg/kg/day) in the diet is suggested by this study for body
weight gain and renal pathological changes.
Korolev et al. (1976) conducted chronic experiments on male albino rats using DPA doses of
0.05,0.5, and 5 mg/kg. Although the authors did not specify route of exposure or vehicle, they
presumably used peroral dosing with DPA dissolved in vegetable oil as they had done in related
experiments reported in the same paper. No further information was provided on animal species and
number, frequency of dosing, or study duration. Several clinical chemistry parameters (also
measured in the subacute studies, see section VLB.l.c), were evaluated. In addition, the chronic
VI-14

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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
study included tests of conditioned reflex activity; serum transaminase and phosphatase activities;
and ceruloplasmin, ^-lipoprotein, and SH-group levels in blood. At the end of the dosing period,
serum bilirubin and cholic acid quantities, internal organ weights, and pathomoiphological studies
were evaluated. Although the results were not presented in detail, the high dose provoked changes
in conditioned reflex activity, hepatic excretory function, peroxidase activity, and levels of
ceruloplasmin and SH-groups in blood. The study found a NOAEL of 0.5 mg/kg/day.
Experimental details for long-term studies of DPA toxicity are summarized in Table VI-6.
b. Lifetime Studies
In a 2-year dietary study, Thomas et al. (1967a) administered 99.9% chemically pure DPA at
concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1,0.5, or 1% by weight in the feed to weanling Slonaker-Addis rats
(20/sex/group) for 734 days. Based on food consumption data reported by the authors for the first
240 days and an assumed body weight of 0.1 kg for young rats (Lehman, 1959), these levels corres-
pond to calculated doses of 1.1, 11.7,118.2, 543, 999 mg/kg/day, respectively, in males; and 0.96,
9.6, 92.5, 438.5, 812 mg/kg/day, respectively, in females. Average food consumption of DPA-
treated rats at levels of 0.001% and 0.1% during the first 240 days (11.5-11.8 g/rat/day for males;
9.3-9.6 g/rat/day for females) was similar to that of controls. However, at DPA levels of 0.5% and
1%, food consumption was significantly reduced (p <0.01) in males (10-10.9 g/rat/day) and females
(8.1-8.8 g/rat/day). Body weight gain in males and females over the first 240 days of treatment was
significantly less (p <0.01) than controls at the 0.5 and 1% DPA levels, but food consumption was
also depressed. Females on the 0.1% DPA diet, however, showed a significantly decreased (p <0.01)
growth rate without decreased food consumption. The authors suggested that a similar effect on
males may have been obscured by the greater range of body weights in males than in either females
or controls at the outset of the study. They also noted that growth rates for the remainder of the 2-
year treatment period revealed no additional pertinent information.
The number of animals surviving in the control group males at 640 days and 734 days was 13
and 14/20, respectively, whereas in treated animals, these numbers varied from 10-15/20 with no
indication of any dose relationship. Survival of female control rats was 14 and 11/20 at 640 and 734
days, respectively, while survival in treated groups ranged from 11-18/20 and no specific dose
response could be ascertained. Hematological findings showed that while leukocyte counts remained
VI-15

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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
normal in all groups through the 463id day, rats in the 0.5 and 1% treatment groups showed
moderately depressed hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels. Two-year ingestion of DPA caused
chronic nephritis and cystic dilatation of renal tubules with accompanying interstitial inflammation at
DPA dietary levels of 0.1%, or more, in males and females. Also, in some rats at these dose levels,
pigment and protein accumulated in the renal pelvis or bladder and were accompanied by mild
epithelial hyperplasia or squamous metaplasia of the epithelial lining. Glomeruli, however, were not
altered, and glycosuria did not develop. The study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% dietary DPA
(calculated dose, 9.6 mg/kg/day) for body weight changes, hematology, and renal pathology.
An unpublished report of the same study (Thomas et al., 1967a) indicated similar results but a
slightly different NOAEL (Booth, 1963). In the study reported by Booth (1963) the survival,
growth, hematological, and histopathological effects of DPA were investigated in weanling albino
rats (20/sex/group) given 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, or 1% DPA in their feed for 2 years. The DPA was
stated to be 100% pure, as determined by cryoscopy. Based on Lehman (1959), these concentrations
correspond to calculated doses of 1,10, 100, 300, or 1,000 mg/kg/day, respectively, for a young rat
The animal species and food consumption rates were not reported. Although some animals
apparently died before the end of the study, there was no significant mortality in any of the treatment
groups. No impact on body weight gain occurred in either sex during the first 240 days at dietary
levels of 0.1% DPA, or less, but a dietary level of 0.5% DPA inhibited growth without reducing
food consumption. At the highest DPA concentration, the food consumption rate was reduced more
than 10%. A moderate degree of anemia (reduction in hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels and
increased numbers of circulating normoblasts) developed in the 1% DPA treatment group during the
hematological test period (126-463 days). In another group of rats studied separately, cessation of
DPA feeding after 106 days at the high treatment level led to rapid restoration of hemoglobin values,
most notably in females. Growth inhibition also recovered, though more slowly. Animals sacrificed
after 640 days of treatment at the 0.5% and 1% levels evidenced dilated cystic renal tubules
accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis. The study suggested a NOAEL of 0.1% DPA
(calculated dose, 100 mg/kg/day) for renal pathology, body weight gain, and anemia.
Thomas et al. (1967b) mixed 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1% DPA into the feed of 8-month old beagle dogs
(two/sex/group) for 2 years. These concentrations correspond to a calculated dose of 2.5, 25, or 250
mg/kg/day (Lehman, 1959). Chemical purity of DPA was reported to be 99.9%. An outbreak of
distemper, which occurred on day 414, caused the death of one female in the 0.1% DPA group on
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
day 434 and the next day necessitated the sacrifice of two males (one each from the 0.01% and 0.1%
treatment groups; all three dogs were from one litter). All four dogs in the 1% DPA group rejected
minor portions of their feed during the first 6 days of treatment, but overall, food consumption was
normal in all the groups throughout the study. Treatment-related decreases in body weight gain
occurred in males and females during the 266-400 day period at 0.1 and 1% levels. The authors
calculated that at 400 days, the high-dose males had ingested a total of 86 g DPA/kg and the
females, 99 g DPA/kg. By the 87th day of treatment, all dogs on the 1% DPA diet had developed
obvious anemia, manifested by decreased hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels. The data indicated a
treatment-related decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocytes in dogs at the 0.1% DPA level, although
the conclusions are based on a few survivors. After 2 years, erythrocytes in the dogs at the 1% level
showed decreased fragility. Leukocyte counts remained within normal limits in all groups.
Sulfobromophthalein tests conducted from days 618-627 indicated moderate damage to liver function
in the 1% dietary DPA. Blood glucose levels were normal. Kidney function tests, which included
phenolsulfonephthalein, urinary albumin and glucose levels, excretion rates (between days 692 and
732), and urine specific gravities, in treated animals were not different from controls. Pathologic
changes occurred in all the dogs (two of each sex) fed the 1% DPA diet although the dogs were
reported to be in good health, high spirited, and active after 2 years of DPA treatment. The most
conspicuous of the lesions in these dogs was a peripherolobular fatty change in the liver
accompanied by a marked increase in liver weight and ether-extractable lipids. Other less severe
pathologic changes included mild hemosiderosis of the spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow, a mild
increase in kidney weight, and a slight increase in hepatic intracellular bilirubin. This study suggests
a NOAEL of 0.01% dietary DPA (calculated dose, 2.5 mg/kg/day) for the absence of decreased body
weight gain, hematology, liver function, and pathological effects. The results of this study should be
considered with some reservation because of the small number of animals used. The observed
effects suggest that the dog may be a more sensitive species than the rat (Thomas et al., 1967a) to
DPA induced effects; however, the occurrence of distemper may have weakened the dogs. The DPA
effects in dogs are summarized in Table VI-4.
In an unpublished report of the same study (Thomas et al., 1967b), DPA concentrations of 0.01,
0.1, or 1% (corresponding to a calculated dose of 2.5, 25, or 250 mg/kg/day (Lehman, 1959) were
given in the diet to groups of two beagle dogs of each sex for 2 years (Booth, 1963). Severe growth
inhibition occurred before the 400th day in the 1% treatment group, but growth in the other treatment
groups was the same as the control group. Leukocyte and differential cell counts in all treatment
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Table VI-4. Effects Produced in Dogs fed Diphenylamine (DPA) in the Diet
Level of DPA
in the Diet
(mg/kg/day)
Effects
2.5
None
25
Decreased body weight during 262-400 days of feeding. Decreased hemo-
globin and erythrocytes.
250
Decreased body weight during 262-400 days of feeding. Obvious anemia by
87th day indicated by decreased hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels. Fragile
erythrocytes after two years of treatment. Moderate liver function damage.
Histopathological liver changes included increased peripheral lobular fatty
changes and slight increase in hepatic intracellular bilirubin. Hemosiderosis of
the spleen, kidneys and bone marrow.
SOURCE: Adapted from Thomas et al., 1976b
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
groups were similar to controls, but hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels decreased at 724-731 days in
the 1% treatment group. Additional tests confirmed the fragility of the erythrocytes in dogs at this
level. Liver and kidney function tests performed after the 600th day were not conclusive though
they indicated possible sulphobromophthalein retention in dogs on 1% dietary DPA and no obvious
renal impairment Increased liver weight, with marked fatty changes, and moderate amounts of
intracellular bilirubin were found at the 1% dietary DPA level Some hemosiderosis of spleen,
kidney, and bone marrow also occurred at this DPA level. This study suggests a NOAEL of 0.1%
dietary DPA (calculated dose, 25 mg/kg/day), which is one order of magnitude higher than that
determined by Thomas et al. (1967b) in beagle dogs. Longer-term studies are summarized in Table
VI-5.
3. Reproductive Effects
In a two-generation reproduction study, Thomas et al. (1967a) mixed DPA (99.9% pure) concen-
trations of 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5% in the diet of 12 female and 3 male Slonaker-Addis rats starting at 35
days of age. These concentrations correspond to calculated doses of 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg/day,
respectively, in young rats (Lehman, 1959). Food consumption was not measured. Mating took
place when the rats were 100 days old. After the litters were weaned, the parents were remated as
were the offspring of the first mating. Average litter size from the first mating of dams on the 0.5%
DPA diet was significantly less (p <0.05) than control levels; after the second mating, the mean litter
size was significantly (p <0.05 to 0.01) less at all tested dose levels (Table VI-6). Average litter size
of the remated dams decreased as the dietary level of DPA increased. However, among litters in the
second generation, only those from mothers on 0.1% dietary DPA were smaller in size compared to
controls. Body weight gain data were inconclusive. A NOAEL was not determined.
In what appears to be an unpublished report of this same two-generation study (Thomas et al.,
1967a), albino rats (species not reported) were given 0.1,0.25, or 0.5% DPA in the diet for an
unspecified time period (Booth, 1963). These concentrations correspond to calculated doses of 100,
250, or 500 mg/kg/day, respectively, in young rats (Lehman, 1959). A control group was also
studied. Apparently, DPA had no effect on the mortality of the offspring or number of litters bom to
treated dams although there was some indication that die 0.5% dietary level reduced litter size and
body weight No further details were provided
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September 1992
Table VI-5. Summary Studies: Longer-term Exposure of Animals to Diphenylamine
Source
Species
Dose (mg/kg/day)
Route
Duration
Darmady et al.,
1970
Rat
2,500
Diet
6 to 19 weeks
Woodhouse et al.,
1965
Rat
2,500
Diet
19 weeks
Gardner et al.,
1976
Rat
1,000
Diet
5 to 20 months
Safouth et al.,
1970
Rat
1,500 or 2,500
Diet
2 to 12 months
Kime et al.,
1962
Rat
1,250 or 2,500
Diet
12 months
Evan et al.,
1978
Rat
1,000
Diet
Up to 18 months
Thomas et al.,
1957
Rat
27.5; 110; 550;
1,100; 1,650
Diet
226 days
Thomas et al.,
1967*
Rat
1.1; 11.7; 118.2;
543; 999
Diet
2 years
Thomas et al.,
1967b
Dog
2.5; 25; 50
Diet
2 years
Sorrentino et al.,
1978
Chicken
2% in the feed*
Diet
120 days
'Exact food consumption was not given and therefore, dose was not calculated.
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September 1992
Table VI-6. Reproduction Performance of Slonaker-Addis Rats fed DPA


Bom
Weaned
DPA Level in
Diet (%)
Number of
Females
Number of
Litters
Mean Number
of Litters
Number of
Litters
Mean Number
of Litters


First Mating


Control
12
12
8.3
10
7.5
0.10
12
10
9.0
10
8.3
0.25
12
10
6.8
9
7.1
0.50
12
10
6.3*
8
6.3


Second Mating


I Control
12
9
9.6
9
9.3
0.10
12
12
7.3'
11
7.1
0.25
12
12
7.3*
12
7.3
0.50
12
11
6.6"
11
6.6


Second Generation


Control
12
10
8.6
10
8.5
0.10
ll6
11
5.8b
11
5.7
0.25
12
12
7.3
12
7.0
0.50
12
11
7.0
11
6.6
'Significant at p <0.05 level
Significant at p <0.01 level
"One died during first week.
SOURCE: Adapted from Thomas et al. (1967a).
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September 1992
Korolev et al. (1976) (study described in section VLB.l.c) found that in male albino rats (species
and number not reported) that were dosed perorally with DPA dissolved in vegetable oil, the maxi-
mum tested dose of 5 mg/kg had no effect on chromosomal reconstruction in bone marrow cells and
no gonadotropic effects. No further details were provided.
In a validation study of the Chemoff-Kavlock assay in Wistar rats, Wickramaratne (1987)
assayed DPA as well as 25 other chemicals and found no fetotoxic effects (litter size or survival) in
IS females given 1,000 mg DPA/kg/day by oral gavage during days 7-17 of gestation.
4. Developmental Toxicity
Diphenylamine induced polycystic renal disease in newborn rats (species not specified) bom of
dams tube fed daily with single doses of 2 mL of 1% DPA in alcohol (20 mg/rat, corresponding to a
calculated dose of 200 mg/kg/day for a 0.1 kg rat) or bom of dams provided a diet containing 2.5%
DPA (corresponding to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day [Lehman, 1959]) during the last 6 days
of pregnancy (Crocker and Vernier, 1970 [abstract]). Control groups were either tube fed with 2 mL
alcohol or fed a diet without DPA. All 70 newborns from dams in the experimental groups evi-
denced cystic dilatation of the collecting ducts and vacuolar degeneration of the proximal tubules. A
NOAEL was not determined.
Based on oral studies with DPA in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats, Crocker et al. (1972)
concluded that a contaminant of commercial DPA, rather than chromatographically pure DPA, was
responsible for in utero cystic tubular lesions in the kidneys of newborn rats. These authors
investigated the effects of commercial DPA from two chemical companies as well as chromatograph-
ically pure DPA and three contaminants (E, F, and G), which were isolated from commercial DPA
by thin-layer chromatography but not characterized in this study (see Safe et al., 1977, in last
paragraph of this section for further details on the contaminants). From 14 day's gestation to term,
pregnant rats were given single daily amounts of the different compounds either by gastric tube at
0.05 or 20 mg/rat in 2 mL of 70% ethanol (corresponding to calculated doses 0.5 or 200 mg/kg/day,
respectively) or by ingestion in the diet at concentrations of 1.5 or 2.5% commercial DPA (corres-
ponding to calculated doses of 1,500 or 2,500 mg/kg/day, respectively, in young rats [Lehman,
1959]). Control groups received 70% ethanol or a normal diet ad libitum. The experimental details
are presented in Table VI-7. Although cannibalism of offspring was high and contributed to the
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September 1992
Table VI-7. Cystic Renal Disease in Neonatal Rats of Dams Exposed to DPA In Utero for 7 Days
Chemical
Daily Dose
Number of
Pregnant Rats
Number of Newborn Rats with
Histological Changes
or Concent.
Delivered
Failed*
Negative
Mild
Mod.
Severe

Daily Oavage in 2 mL of 70% EtOH



DPA-K\ aged 2 years
20 mg
18
3
8
6
21
4
DPA-E®, purified
20 mg
20
0
26
6
0
0
Contaminant4 E
50 pg
36
8
18
4
30
0
Contaminant F
50 jig
11
2
18
0
0
0
Contaminant O
50 pg
6
1
12
8
0
0
Control—70% alcohol
—
11
3
24
0
0
0


Dietary Exposure




DPA-K, aged 2 years
1.5%
8
4
4
4
0
0
DPA-K, aged 2 yean
2.5%
27
10
0
13
31
6
DPA-K, aged 3 months
2.5%
5
0
10
6
0
0
DPA-B, aged 2 years
2.5%
6
2
20
10
4
0
Control—powdered
chow ad libitum
—
7
2
12
0
0
0
"Pregnant rats failed to deliver viable young due to maternal death, cannibalism of newborns, or still boms.
'Commercially supplied DPA: DPA-K from Eastman Chemical Co., DPA-B from Baker Chemical Co.
°DPA isolated from contaminants of aged DPA-K by thin-layer chromatography.
'Isolated bands from thin-layer chromatography of DPA.
SOURCE: Adapted from Crocker et al. (1972).
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September 1992
wide range in the number of offspring observed per litter (3-17), no statistical analysis was provided
of its incidence. Diphenylamine from Eastman Chemical Co. (DPA-K) aged for 2 years induced the
most severe renal effects in newborns from dams of both gastric tube and dietary groups, while
chemically pure DPA produced no significant effects. No DPA-related effects were observed in any
of the dams of any treatment group during the experiment. Though not discussed by the authors, it
should be noted that ethanol itself can cause significant toxicity and may have contributed (e.g.,
combined effects with DPA) to adverse outcomes.
Contaminant E (50 jig/day) and 20 mg/day of aged DPA-K frequently caused moderate cystic
changes in the proximal tubules of newborns of dams treated by stomach tube, even though the dose
level was substantially different. No significant cystic changes were reported in the 20 mg/day
chromatographically pure DPA newborns or in those born of dams treated with contaminant frac-
tions, F or G. While newborns in the 70% ethanol control group did not develop cystic tubular
dilatation, their proximal tubules were minimally abnormal. In the dietary treatment groups, 2.5%
aged DPA-K regularly induced cystic changes in the proximal tubules of newborns. Only infre-
quently were cysts found in the collecting duct system, and occasionally the medullary collecting
duct was slightly dilated. Dietary levels of 1.5% DPA-K aged 2 years, 2.5% DPA-K aged 3 months,
or 2.5% DPA-B (from Baker Chemical Co.) aged 2 years produced less common and less severe
renal lesions. This study indicates that chemically pure DPA is not nephrotoxic in newborn rats.
In a later study, Safe et al. (1977) used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyze
impurities in six commercial brands of DPA as well as the contaminants that Crocker et al. (1972)
used in their investigations of developmental effects in rats. One impurity (o-cyclohexylaniline) was
found in all of the DPA samples and was determined to be contaminant F used in the Crocker et al.
(1972) study. Contaminant G was identified as p-cyclohexylaniline. Contaminant E corresponded to
the first peak (band 1), the least polar band of the chromatographic analysis. Infrared spectrum of
band 1 revealed two broad bands indicating the presence of more than one impurity, and nuclear
magnetic resonance spectrum showed a series of unresolved multiplets. Thus, contaminant E was
not fully characterized. Four of the commercial DPA samples contained the carcinogen, p-biphenyl-
amine (Safe et al., 1977).
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September 1992
5. Carcinogenicity
Diphenylamine, which produces renal cysts in rats (Thomas et al., 1957), was tested along with
SO other chemicals for carcinogenicity in female Sprague-Dawley rats (Griswold et al., 1966). The
animals were administered by single intragastric intubation DPA in sesame oil at 300 mg/rat (20
rats/dose; the dose was determined in a separate experiment to be the maximum tolerated dose for
DPA) and observed for the appearance of mammary tumors or other grossly apparent tumors over a
6-month period. Animals that died during the study and those that survived until the end of the
observation period were subjected to necropsy, including gross and histologic examinations of most
major organs. Neoplastic changes suggestive of carcinogenicity were not reported in any tested
organs by this rapid tumor induction method using DPA although several inherently carcinogenic
compounds such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon compounds tested positive by this test
Mortality for DPA-treated animals at 6 months was 2/20 and for controls 5/89.
Groups of mice (Strain unspecified; 200/sex/group) maintained on diets containing DPA at 50,
100, or 250 ppm (0.005, 0.01, and 0.025%, respectively; corresponding to calculated doses of 7.5,
15, and 37.5 mg/kg/day, respectively [Lehman, 1959]) for 92 weeks revealed no increase in the
incidence or rate of tumor formation from those of controls (an unpublished study cited in U.S. EPA,
1985 and attributed to Coulston et al., 1972). In this study, interim kills were performed on an
unspecified number of mice at 6,12, and 18 months of treatment and unspecified organs were
examined histologically for the induction of neoplastic changes. At 250 ppm, spleen and liver
weights were increased, splenic hemosiderosis was observed, but no other incidences of histologic
lesions in kidney or other tissues were found.
In a chronic feeding study by Thomas et ai. (1967a), Slonaker-Addis rats, 20/sex/group, were
maintained on dietary levels of DPA at 0.001,0.005,0.01,0.10,0.50, or 1.0% (1,10,100, 500, or
1,000 mg/kg/day, respectively (Lehman, 1959D for a period of 734 days. The number of animals
surviving in the control group males at 640 days and 734 days was 13/20, whereas in treated animals
these numbers varied from 10-15/20 with no indication of any particular dose-relationship. Survival
of females in controls was 14 and 11/20 at 640 and 734 days, respectively, while survival in treated
groups ranged from 11-18/20 and no specific dose-response could be ascertained. Animals that died
prior to the 640th day of treatment, usually of respiratory infections, were not subjected to necropsy.
Additional experimental details and results on the noncarcinogenic adverse health effects of this
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
study are presented in section VI.B.2.b. Neither the benign tumor incidences observed, such as
adenomatous hypeiplasia of adrenals, mammary adenofibroma, and adenoma of pituitary gland, nor
the malignant tumor incidences of adrenal medullary adenocarcinoma were relatively increased in the
treated animals as compared to controls. Other benign tumors seen in controls or in one of the
treated groups were: abdominal lipoma, thyroid adenoma, uterus leiomyoma, and ovary granulosa
cell. Similarly, some malignant tumors appeared in controls or in one of the DPA-treated groups
involving liver, lung, pancreas, pituitary, or vulva. Selected information on sites and types of tumors
found in this study is presented in Table VI-8. The authors attributed the tumor incidences not to
the treatment but to the aging and senility of animals. Thus, in this study on carcinogenesis, dietary
ingestion of DPA for over 2-years did not result in carcinogenesis in Slonaker-Addis rats.
Thomas et al. (1976b) fed 8-month old beagle dogs (two/sex/group) DPA in the diet at
calculated levels of 2.5, 25, or 250 mg/kg/day for 2 years. Death of one female in the mid-dose
group occurred on day 434 due to distemper. This necessitated the killing of two males, one each
from low- and mid-dose groups (these three dogs were from one litter). After 2 years, the adverse
effects observed were limited to dogs fed the high dose. These consisted of decreased erythrocyte
fragility; moderate liver function damage;slight increase in intracellular bilirubin in liver, hepatic
peripherolobular fatty changes; less severe hemosiderosis of the spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow;
and a mild increase in kidney weight. Compound-related carcinogenic effects due to dietary DPA
feeding were not found (non-carcinogenic effects are presented in detail in section VLB.2). The
limited number of animals used in the study must be borne in mind for any definite conclusions to
be drawn. Nevertheless, when this information is considered along with the observed
noncaicinogenicity in rats (Thomas et al., 1976a) tested using 6 different dose levels, the existence
of cancer potential for DPA becomes doubtful.
Negative results were obtained in a combined in vitro and in vivo assay wherein fetuses of
pregnant Syrian golden hamsters were exposed in utero to an intraperitoneal injection of 5-20 mg/kg
DPA. The fetuses were subsequently excised and the fetal cells were cultured in vitro and observed
for the presence of transformed cells (DiPaolo et al., 1973). In this bioassay, no neoplastic
transformation was observed.
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September 1992
Table VI-8. Selected Information on Sites and Types of Tumors in Rats Fed DPA up to 734 Days'

Dietary Levels of Diphenylamine
Tumor
Controls
0.001%
0.01%
0.1%
0.5%
1%

M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
Benini Tumors












Adrenal medulla adenomatous
hyperplasia
8
5
0
3
8
2
5
6
4
1
5
3
Mammary adenofibroma
1
2
2
5
1
6
0
5
0
2
0
0
Pituitary adenoma
1
-
-
1
-
3
-
1
-
1
-
1
Adrenal pheochromocytoma
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Malienant Tumors












Adrenal medulla adenocarcinoma
•
1
1
.
1






-
|[ Adrenal cortical adenocarcinoma	1	
'Animals that died before 640 days were not necropsied. A few wen necropsied between 640 and 734 days, but
the majority were necropsied at 734 days.
SOURCE: Adapted from Thomas et al. (1967a).
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September 1992
Experimental production of N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NNDPA) in the stomach of rats (species
unspecified) fed a diet containing 0.02% DPA and 0.04% sodium nitrite has been demonstrated
(IARC, 1975). Dietary administration of NNDPA resulted in an increased incidence of transitional-
cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder in F344 male and female rats over controls (IARC, 1982).
Dietary feeding of NNDPA for 101 weeks produced epithelial hyperplasia of urinary bladder mucosa
in B6C3F, mice whereas this lesion was absent in controls (IARC, 1982). However, with regard to
incidences and types of other tumors, they were similar in treated and control animals. In another
experiment, one-week-old (C57BL/6XAnf)F1 or (C57BL/6XAKR)F! mice were given NNDPA in
dimethyl sulfoxide for the first 3 weeks followed by dietary feeding until 79 weeks of age (IARC,
1972). No increased incidences of tumors were observed over controls in these mice.
6.	Genotoxicitv
DPA tested negative by Ames reverse mutation assay with or without S9 metabolic activation in
Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1000, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, C3076, D3052,
and G46 (Fenetti et al., 1976; Florin et al., 1980; Probst et al., 1981), and in Escherichia coli strains
WP2 and WP2uvrA- (Probst et al., 1981) in the presence or absence of the S9 factor.
DPA was also negative for forward mutation in the thymidine kinase locus of cultured mouse
lymphoma cells in the presence of S9 factor (Amacher et al., 1980), and for unscheduled DNA
synthesis in cultured hepatocytes prepared from Fischer 344 rats (Probst et al., 1981).
DPA was tested for co-mutagenicity with norharman, a component of cigarette smoke, in S.
typhimurium TA98 (U.S. EPA, 1985). DPA was more mutagenic in the presence of S9 factor and
norharman, than NNDPA suggesting that NNDPA may metabolically yield DPA. Negative results
were obtained when NNDPA was tested for genotoxicity by several short-term assays in prokaryotes
and eukaryotes (IARC, 1982).
7.	Other Effects
Hong et al. (1974) investigated the effect of DPA on sodium and water transport in isolated toad
(Bufo marinus) skin and urinary bladder. A pair of symmetrical abdominal skin samples was
obtained from each of seven toads for control and treatment measurements. Similarly, pairs of
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
hemibladder samples was excised for the bladder studies. Reagent grade DPA obtained from Baker
Chemical Co. was prepared by dissolving 5 mg DPA in SO jiL ethanol and 100 mL Ringer solution.
Ethanol at this concentration had no effect on sodium or water transport in the controls. DPA in the
outside bathing medium of the skin caused the shoit-circuit current and electrical potential difference
to rapidly decrease, reaching a plateau in 40-50 minutes. Short-circuit current was reduced 70%
when measured at 60 minutes of exposure. Recovery was no more than 50%, 60 minutes after
washout. Adding DPA to the inside surface of the skin caused a much less rapid effect with a 30%
reduction at 60 minutes exposure. Skin pretreated with DPA had no effect on the usual effect of an
antidiuretic hormone. The reduction of short-circuit current was accompanied by a proportional
reduction in net sodium influx without any change in net chloride fluxes. In the urinary bladder
experiments, the mucosal side was bathed with 1:5 choline chloride-Ringer and the serosal side with
full-strength sodium chloride Ringer. Osmotic water transfer induced by antidiuretic hormone was
significantly reduced in the presence of DPA on either the serosal or mucosal side of the bladder,
indicating that DPA interferes with the water permeability of the urinary bladder. The authors
concluded that DPA inhibits both the active transport of sodium across the toad skin and the
antidiuretic hormone-induced passive transport of water across the toad urinary bladder.
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September 1992
VH. HEALTH ADVISORY DEVELOPMENT
A. SUMMARY OF HEALTH EFFECTS DATA
Diphenylamine is used to stabilize nitrocellulose explosives and celluloid in various gun propel-
lant compositions. It is also used extensively as a dip spray and impregnate of paper wraps to
prevent scald on apples and other fruits, and as an insecticide. Therapeutically, DPA derivatives are
used to treat helminthic infections. Diphenylamine is used in the manufacturing of dyes, polymers,
greases, and oils, in producing industrial antioxidants for rubber, and as an analytical reagent
(Budavari, 1989). Diphenylamine has been detected in the effluent of manufacturing plants in
California, in Rhine River water, and in Norwegian rain water (U.S. EPA, 1985). It was also
detected in trace amounts in the ambient air of Geismar, LA (U.S. EPA, 1985). The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration's Monitoring program and Total Diet Program, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's National Residue Program found DPA of undetermined concentration in only one fruit
sample and one infant and junior food formula in several thousands of samples tested during 1970-
1976.
Only a modicum of data are available on the fate of DPA in the environment. Information about
potential hydrolysis of DPA and photolysis in aqueous solutions are lacking. Rapid microbial
degradation of DPA occurred in a laboratory-model sewage sludge system (U.S. EPA, 198S). Based
on its solubility and calculated vapor pressure, DPA is predicted to volatilize slowly (U.S. EPA,
1985). It is considered to have a medium-to-low mobility in soils (Briggs, 1981).
No specific animal or human data on the absorption and distribution of DPA following ingestion
were located. However, metabolic studies of DPA suggest that absorption does occur. Diphenyl-
amine is rapidly excreted in the urine and is found in the bile of male rats intraperitoneally or
intravenously injected with die compound (Alexander et al, 1965). In human urine samples follow-
ing a single oral dose of DPA, unchanged DPA, 4-Hydroxydiphenylamine (4-HDPA), and 4,4'-
Dihydroxydiphenylamine were detected (Alexander et al., 1965). Glucuronic acid conjugate of 4-
HDPA was the major metabolite found in the urine of rats intraperitoneally injected with a dose of
either DPA, 4-HDPA, or N-hydroxydiphenylamine (Alexander et al., 1965).
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September 1992
Except for some dermal studies in occupational workers, no epidemiological, clinical case
histories, or experimental studies of potential human health effects to DPA exposure are available.
Diphenylamine was not irritating to the skin of humans or rabbits (Slovak, 1980; Calnan, 1978;
Epstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978; Levenstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978).
Reported oral LDjqS for rats are 1.165 g/kg (Levenstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978), 3.2 g/kg
(Epstein et al., 1967 and Volodchenko, 1975 cited in Opdyke, 1978), and 2.0 g/kg (Korolev et al.,
1976); for mice 1.75 g/kg (Korolev et al., 1976); and for guinea pigs 300 mg/kg (Sweet, 1987).
Short-term studies with Sprague-Dawley rats, Syrian hamsters, and Mongolian gerbils given 400,
600, or 800 mg DPA/kg/day in peanut oil once a day by gavage for 3 days showed that Syrian
hamsters are more sensitive to DPA-related mortality and renal pathologic damage than either the
rats or gerbils (Lenz and Carlton, 1990). These authors suggested a No Observed Adverse Effect
Level (NOAEL) of 400 mg/kg/day for acute renal pathologic changes (not including papillary necro-
sis) in rats. However, in the Syrian hamsters, this dose produced 40% mortality and total renal
papillary necrosis and splenomegaly in 90% of the animals. In another gavage study, Powell et al.
(1985) observed necrosis of renal papilla and pars recta in Wistar rats given 4.1 mM (694 mg)
DP A/kg once a day by gavage for 3 or 9 days. In mice gavaged once with 600 mg DP A/kg,
Kronevi and Holmberg (1979) observed high mortality and pathological abnormalities of the
intestine, kidney, and liver.
In male and female F344 rats (6/group), daily doses of DPA (111, 333, or 1,000 mg/kg/day)
administered in olive oil by gavage for 28 days caused a treatment-related decrease in body weight
gain and in relative organ weights (most notably the liver); depressed erythrocyte and hemoglobin
levels; increased leukocytes, serum albumin, bilirubin, and potassium levels; and renal tubular
degeneration and necrosis, congestion and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen, bone marrow
hyperplasia, and mucosal changes in the forestomach (Yoshida et al., 1989). The Lowest-Observed-
Adverse-Effect Level (LOAEL) in this study is 111 mg/kg/day, the lowest dose tested, based on liver
weight changes in male rats. There is no NOAEL for this study. The 25-day oral study in rats by
Korolev et al. (1976) suggested a NOAEL of 16 mg DPA/kg/day but presented no details of the
results.
In an 8-month study, Thomas et al. (1957) investigated the effects of DPA on growth and the
anatomy of selected internal organs in 36 female weanling albino rats fed 0.025,0.1,0.5,1.0, or
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
1.5% DPA in the diet (corresponding to calculated doses of 27.5, 110, 550, 1,100, and 1,650
mg/kg/day, respectively) for 226 days. Dietary levels of at or above 0.5% DPA caused a dose-
related decrease in body weight gain, hematogenic granular pigmentation in the liver and kidneys,
and focal dilatation of renal tubules with multiple cystic structures. The study suggested a NOAEL
of 0.1% (calculated dose of 110 mg/kg/day) for body weight gain and renal pathological changes in
female rats. A chronic study by Korolev et al. (1976) suggested a NOAEL of 0.5 mg/kg/day in
male albino rats based on the absence of several clinical chemistry parameters, reflex activity, and
morphological studies, but the authors did not present any details regarding animal species and
number, dosing frequency, study duration, or results.
A lifetime study in which Slonaker-Addis rats (20/sex/group) were fed diets containing 0.001,
0.01, 0.1, 0.5, or 1% DPA (corresponding to calculated doses of 1.1-999 mg/kg/day for males and
0.96-812 mg/kg/day for females) for 2 years showed several DPA-related effects (Thomas et al.,
1967a). Levels above 0.1% dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without decreasing food
consumption, and at the 0.5 and 1% levels anemia characterized by reduced hemoglobin and erythro-
cyte levels occurred. Dilated cystic renal tubules accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis
occurred at or above the 0.1% leveL This study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% (calculated dose of
9.6 mg/kg/day). An unpublished report of this study (Booth, 1963) indicated that levels above 0.5%
dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without decreasing food consumption, and at or above the
1% dietary DPA level, anemia characterized by reduced blood hemoglobin and erythrocytes
occurred. Dilated cystic renal tubules accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis occurred at or
above the 0.5% level. These results suggest a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated dose of 100 mg/kg/day).
In a similar study, Thomas et al. (1967b) fed a small number of beagle dogs a diet containing
0.01%, 0.1%, or 1% DPA far 2 years and observed decreased body weight gain at or above the 0.1%
DPA level and a possible treatment-related decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocytes at the 0.1%
level Some pathological changes were found in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow at the
1% level Kidney function tests were negative. The study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% (calculated
dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day based (Hi Lehman [1959]). According to an unpublished report of this study
(Booth, 1963), growth inhibition, decreased blood hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels, and patho-
logical changes occurred at the 1% level suggesting a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated dose of 25 mg/
kg/day based on Lehman [1959]).
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Renal tubular dilatation and intrarenal cysts in rats have been caused by daily gavage of DPA at
4.1 mM (694 mg) DPA/kg daily for 3-9 days (Powell et al„ 1985) and at 1.6 mM (271 mg) DPA/kg
for 1-8 weeks (Powell et al., 1983), and by the continuous ingestion of a diet containing DPA at
2.5% for 3-6 weeks (Eknoyan et al., 1976), at 2.5% for 19 weeks (Woodhouse et al., 1965; Darmady
et al., 1970), at 1.5% or 2.5% for 0.5-12 months (Safouth et al., 1970), at 2.5% for 12 months (Kime
et al., 1962), at 1% DPA for 18 months (Evan et al., 1976), and at 1% DPA for 5-20 months
(Gardner et al., 1976). Renal pathologic changes also have been observed in male NMRI mice given
1.4 g DPA/kg/day doses by oral gavage for 10 weeks (Kronevi and Holmberg, 1979).
Slonaker-Addis rats of both sexes maintained on a diet containing 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5% DPA
starting at 35 days of age were mated twice and their offspring were mated (Thomas et al., 1967a).
Average litter size decreased as DPA level in the diet increased. Wickramaratne (1987) found no
DPA-related effects on litter size or survival in female Wistar rats given 1,000 mg/kg/day by oral
gavage during days 7-17 of gestation. Crocker and Vernier (1970, abstract) reported renal cystic
dilatation of the collecting ducts and vacuolar degeneration of the proximal tubules in all newborn
rats (species not specified) from dams fed 200 mg DPA/kg/day by gastric tube or 2.5% dietary DPA
(corresponding to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day) during the last 6 days of gestation. In a
later study (Crocker et al., 1972), the DPA-related effects on the kidney of second generation
Sprague-Dawley rats was attributed to an unidentified contaminant chromatographically isolated from
DPA. This contaminant was given to dams by gastric tube at 50 pg/day in 2 mL of 70% ethanol
(calculated to be 0.5 mg/kg/day) during the last 6-7 days of gestation. No significant cystic changes
occurred in newborns from dams intragastrically intubated with chemically pure DPA (20 mg DPA/
rat in 2 mL of ethanol; calculated to be 200 mg/kg/day).
Diphenylamine has been shown to be noncarcinogenic in Sprague-Dawley rats given a single oral
dose of 300 mg DPA/kg over a 6-month period (Griswold et al., 1966) and in Slonaker-Addis rats
given daily DPA in the diet at concentrations of 0.001-1% over a 2-year period (Thomas et al.,
1967a). Also, no evidence of dietary DPA-induced carcinogenicity occurred in mice over a 92 week
period (U.S. EPA, 1985). Negative results were obtained in a bioassay involving in vivo exposure of
Syrian hamster fetuses to DPA and in vitro culture of exposed fetal cells to observe neoplastic
transformation, if any (DiPaolo et al., 1973).
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Diphenylamine tested negative in the Ames reverse mutation assay in S. typhimurium strains
TA98, TA100, TA1000, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, C3076, D3052, and G46 with and without S9
activation (Ferretti et al., 1976; Florin et al., 1980; Probst et al., 1981) as well as in E. coli strains
WP2 and WP2uvrA- with or without S9 activation (Probst et al., 1981). Diphenylamine also tested
negative in isolated mouse lymphoma cells with S9 activation (Amacher et al., 1980) and did not
cause unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes (Probst et al., 1981).
B. QUANTIFICATION OF TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Health Advisories are generally determined for One-day, Ten-day, Longer-term (approximately 7
years), and Lifetime exposures if adequate data are available that identify a sensitive noncarcinogenic
endpoint of toxicity. The HAs for noncarcinogenic toxicants are derived using the following
formula:
m - (NOAEL or LQAEL) (BW) _
(OTM) C_ L/day) — ^
where:
NOAEL or LOAEL & No- or Lowest- Observed Adverse Effect Level (in mg/kg bw/day).
BW = assumed body weight of a child (10 kg) or an adult (70 kg).
UF[s] = uncertainty factors (10; 100; 1,000; or 10,000) in accordance with NAS/EPA
guidelines.
	L/day a assumed daily water consumption of a child (1 L/day) or an adult (2 L/day).
1. One-dav Health Advisory
No suitable study was found that could be used to derive the One-day HA. Among die studies
considered, Kronevi and Holmberg (1979) used one high dose of 600 mg DPA/kg in mice and
observed 31% mortality within S days of treatment Hie 3-day oral gavage study in Sprague-Dawley
rats, Syrian hamsters, or geibils by Lenz and Carlton (1990) indicated dut the lowest tested dose of
400 mg/kg/day produced significant lethality (hamsters only) and/or other advene effects. Powell et
al. (1985) observed adverse renal effects in gavaged Wistar rats with only one high dose of 4.1 mM
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
(694 mg) DP A/kg daily for 3 or 9 days. Thus, the Ten-day HA for a child of 1.0 mg/L is suggested
as a conservative estimate for a One-day HA.
2.	Ten-dav Health Advisory
The 28-day oral study by Yoshida et al. (1989) was considered the best available study for the
determination of a Ten-day HA. In this study, rats were administered DPA daily by single oral
gavage at 111, 333, or 1,000 mg/kg/day. Data on food consumption, growth rate, detailed clinical
chemistries, gross and microscopic pathology were presented. This study suggested a LOAEL of
111 mg/kg/day for reduced weights of liver, kidney, and spleen. The 25-day oral study in rats by
Korolev et al. (1976) suggested a NOAEL of 16 mg DPA/kg/day but presented no details with
regard to the species, sex, and number of animals used nor any histopathological studies.
Using the LOAEL of 111 mg/kg/day, the Ten-day HA for the 10-kg child is calculated as
follows:
Ten-day HA = 0*1 mg/kg/day) (10 kg) = mg/L = (rounded to 1.0 mg/L or 1,000 jig/L)
'	(1000) (1 L/day)	^	™
where:
111 mg/kg/day = LOAEL, based on reduced weights of liver, kidney, and spleen in rats
following 28 days of daily oral exposure.
10 kg = assumed body weight of a child.
1000 = uncertainty factor (UF), chosen in accordance with NAS/EPA guidelines for
use of a LOAEL from an animal study. This UF includes a factor of 10 for
interspecies variability, a factor of 10 for intraspecies variability, and a factor
of 10 for use of a LOAEL in the absence of a NOAEL.
1 L/day = assumed daily water consumption of a child.
3.	Longer-term Health Advisory
The feeding study in beagle dogs for over 400 days was considered most suitable for the
determination of the Longer-term HA. In this study, 8-month okl beagle dogs (two/sex/group) were
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
fed chemically pure (99.9%) DPA in the diet at 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% levels (2.5, 25, 250 mg/kg/
day, respectively). An outbreak of distemper caused the death of one female (0.1% DPA) on day
434 of treatment and also necessitated the sacrifice of two males. The overall food consumption was
normal in all groups. Dose-related growth retardation and adverse blood effects occurred during the
266-400 day period at 0.1% and 1% levels (more details of adverse effects are presented in section
VLB.2.b). This study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% dietary DPA (calculated dose of 2.5 mg/kg/
day) for the absence of depressed body weight gain, hematological, and renal pathological effects.
The 226-day feeding study in rats by Thomas et al. (1957) was considered less suitable than the
dog study for the determination of Longer-term HA for DPA. In this study, data on food consump-
tion, growth rate, and histopathology of most major organs were evaluated and a NOAEL of 0.01%
dietary DPA (calculated dose, 110 mg DPA/kg/day) was suggested for the absence of renal patho-
logical changes. Another study that was considered but was not found suitable was die rat feeding
study of Korolev et al. (1976). These authors provided no information on the species/sex/number of
animals, dosing frequency, or study duration although several clinical parameters were evaluated and
a NOAEL of 0.5 mg DPA/kg/day was found. Beagle dog appears to be more sensitive than rats to
DPA effects based on detailed gross and histopathologic^ findings. Thus, the NOAEL of 2.5
mg/kg/day obtained in the dog study is used as a conservative value far the calculation of the
Longer-term HA.
The Longer-term HA for a 10-kg child is calculated as follows:
Longer-term HA - (£5 fflg/k^d«y)(10 kg) „ Q 25 mg/L (rounded to 0.3 mg/L or 300 iigfL)
(100) (1 L/day)
where:
2.5 mg/kg/day * NOAEL, based on the absence of depressed body weight gain and blood
effects in beagle dogs fed dietary DPA daily for over 400 days.
10 kg ¦ assumed weight of a child.
100 = uncertainty factor (UF), chosen in accordance with NAS/EPA guidelines for
use of a NOAEL from an animal study. This UF includes a factor of 10 for
interspecies variability and a factor of 10 for intraspecies variability.
1 L/day * assumed water consumption of a 10-kg child.
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
The Longer-term HA for a 70-kg adult is calculated as follows:
Longer-term HA
(2.5 mg/kgfday) (70 kg)
(100) (2 L/day)
- 0.875 mg/L (rounded to 1.0 mg/L or 1,000 \ig/L)
where:
2.5 mg/kg/day = NOAEL, based on the absence of depressed body weight gain and blood
effects in beagle dogs fed dietary DPA daily for over 400 days.
70 kg = assumed weight of an adult.
100 = uncertainty factor (UF), chosen in accordance with NAS/EPA guidelines for
use of a NOAEL from an animal study. This UF includes a factor of 10 for
interspecies variability and a factor of 10 for intraspecies variability.
2 L/day = assumed water consumption of a 70-kg adult.
4. Lifetime Health Advisory
The Lifetime HA represents that portion of an individual's total exposure that is attributed to
drinking water and is considered protective of noncarcinogenic adverse health effects over a lifetime
exposure. The Lifetime HA is derived in a three-step process. Step 1 determines the Reference
Dose (RfD), formerly called the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). The RfD is an estimate (with
uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a daily exposure to the human population
(including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious health
effects during a lifetime, and is derived from the NOAEL (or LOAEL), identified from a chronic (or
subchronic) study, divided by an uncertainty factors). From the RfD, a Drinking Water Equivalent
Level (DWEL) can be determined (Step 2). A DWEL is a medium-specific (i.e., drinking water)
lifetime exposure level, assuming 100% exposure from that medium, at which adverse, noncarcino-
genic health effects would not be expected to occur. Hie DWEL is derived from the multiplication
of the RfD by the assumed body weight of an adult and divided by the assumed daily water con-
sumption of an adult The Lifetime HA in drinking water alone is determined in Step 3 by factoring
in other sources of exposure, the relative source contribution (RSC). The RSC from drinking water
is based on actual exposure data or, if data are not available, a value of 20% is assumed.
If the contaminant is classified as a known, probable, or possible carcinogen, according to the
Agency's classification scheme of carcinogenic potential (U.S. EPA, 1986), then caution must be
exercised in making a decision on how to deal with possible lifetime exposure to this substance. For
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September 1992
known human (A) or probable (B) human carcinogens, a Lifetime HA is not recommended. For
possible (Q human carcinogens, an additional 10-fold safety factor is used in the calculation of the
Lifetime HA. The risk manager must balance this assessment of carcinogenic potential and the
quality of the data against the likelihood of occurrence and significance of health effects related to
noncarcinogenic endpoints of toxicity.
The 2-year dog feeding study (Thomas et al., 1967b) is considered most appropriate for
calculation of the RfD. In this study, 0.01% dietary DPA produced no gross or histopathological
indicators of adverse health effects. At 0.1% DPA, while no kidney changes were observed, there
was growth reduction and mild anemia, and at 1% DPA the liver, kidney, and blood effects were
significantly increased (details are presented in section VLB.2.b). Thus, 0.01% DPA, which
calculates to a dose of 2.5 mg DPAAcg/day, was considered the NOAEL, and 0.1% DPA was
considered the LOAEL based on decreased weight gain and increased liver and kidney weights.
The 2-year, feeding toxicity/oncogenicity study in rats by Thomas et al. (1967a) also is suitable
for determining the Lifetime HA. In this study, rats were fed DPA at dietary levels of 0.001,0.01,
0.1,0.5, or 1% for 734 days. Sufficient details regarding food consumption, growth rate, hema-
tology, gross and histopathology were presented. A NOAEL of 0.01% dietary DPA, which calcu-
lates to a dose of 9.6 mg DP A/kg/day, was also suggested in this study. This value was considered
less conservative than the value for beagle dogs, and the dogs appear to be more sensitive to DPA.
Thus, the NOAEL for dogs is used far calculation of the RfD. No other studies of lifetime duration
were available for consideration in determining a Lifetime HA.
Step 1: Determination of the Reference Dose (RfD)
RfD - 2,5 mg/kg/fry . 0Q25 mg/tyfey (toufed to 0.03 tng/kg/day)
where:
2.5 mg/kg/day = NOAEL, based on the absence of growth retardation and adverse hemato-
logical effects in dogs fed DPA in the diet daily for 2 years.
100 = uncertainty factor (UF), chosen in accordance with NAS/EPA guidelines for
use with a NOAEL from an animal study. This UF includes a factor of 10
far interspecies variability and a factor of 10 for intraspecies variability.
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Step 2: Determination of the Drinking Water Equivalent Level (DWEL)
DWEL = (0.03 mg/kg/day) (70 kg) = 105 xngfL (rounded to 1.0 mg/L or 1,000 ng/L)
2 L/day
where:
0.03 mg/kg/day = RfD.
70 kg = assumed body weight of an adult.
2 L/day = assumed daily water consumption of an adult.
Step 3: Determination of the Lifetime Health Advisory
Lifetime HA * (1.0 mg/L) (0.2) = 0.2 mg/L (200 |ig/L)
where:
1.0 mg/L = DWEL
0.2 = assumed relative source contribution (20%) from water.
Evaluation of Carcinogenic Potential
C. QUANTIFICATION OF CARCINOGENIC POTENTIAL
Three available carcinogenicity studies arc considered to be inadequate to estimate the
carcinogenic potential of DPA. Lifetime feeding studies in rats and mice and a chronic feeding
study in dogs did not reveal compound-related neoplastic effects; however, either design deficiencies
or lack of reported information limit the conclusions concerning the carcinogenic potential of DPA.
A lifetime feeding study in rats using traditional cancer bioassay methods did not reveal
compound-related neoplastic effects, although some malignant and benign tumors involving many
organs were related to aging and senility (Thomas et al., 1967a). This study was adequate with
regard to its duration, doses of DPA, food consumption and growth data, and gross and
histopathological observations. It is limited because, with the small number of animals that were
treated, the statistical power to detect cancer is reduced, and there is added uncertainty for a
conclusion of no evidence of carcinogenicity.
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A 2-year feeding study in beagle dogs (Thomas et al„ 1976b) gave no indication of carcino-
genicity. Deficiencies in the study, such as, the small number of animals used, the occurrence of
distemper and related mortality which further reduced the number of animals in some dose groups,
and relatively short study duration, limit its conclusions.
Negative results were reported for a 92-week feeding study in mice (U.S. EPA, 1985) but the
study is unpublished and has been reviewed only briefly by the Food and Agricultural Organization
of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The quality of the study and validity of
the conclusions cannot be assessed because the description in the EPA document is limited to a
single paragraph with little experimental details. There is no information concerning animal survival,
the organs examined, histopathology, systemic effects, and statistical significance.
Though DPA is not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity, there is useful information
concerning its cancer potential that can be inferred from the existing cancer and mutagenicity studies.
If cancer was not detected because of the deficiencies in the studies, it is reasonable to consider that
the cancer potency of DPA is nil to low. If DPA were a highly potent carcinogen, then cancer
would be expected to have occurred in one or more of the chronic/lifetime studies. Also. DPA was
negative in mutagenicity assays with bacterial and mammalian test systems which is supporting
evidence for low or no cancer potential
The study in rats (Thomas et al., 1976a) used six dose groups rather than the two or three
routinely used in NTP cancer bioassays. Hie high dose approached 1,000 mg/kg/day. Though there
were only 20 animals/sex/dose (rather than 30-50 animals/sex/dose, which are required for adequate
statistical significance), high cancer potential would be expected to be detected even with the small
number of animals in the dose groups.
The overall evidence does not meet the EPA criteria to classify DPA as having no evidence of
human carcinogenicity (Groups E). A Group E classification requires no evidence of carcinogenicity
in at least two species and in well-conducted studies (U.S. EPA, 1986). The existing studies were
not adequate according to current guidelines.
There is sufficient information to indicate the carcinogenic potential of DPA when fed in the diet
or by other methods of oral administration over a lifetime. Based on this information and applying
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine	September 1992
the U.S. EPA (1986) guidelines for the assessment of carcinogenic risk, DPA is classified in Group
D: not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.
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Vni. OTHER CRITERIA, GUIDANCE, AND STANDARDS
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has established a Threshold
Limit Value of 10 mg/m\ the time-weighted average (TWA) concentration for a normal 8-hour work
day and a 40-hr work week, to which nearly all occupational workers may be repeatedly exposed
daily without adverse effect (ACGIH, 1990). U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration has established a limit for air contamination of DPA at 10 mg/m3, TWA
(OSHA, 1989). Federal Register, 1962, Title 21-Food and Drugs (Cited in U.S. EPA, 1985) lists
tolerances for residues of DPA in or on apples of 10 ppm (mg/kg) to cover residues from preharvest
spray or use of impregnated wraps; and 0 ppm in meat or milk. Diphenylamine is listed under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Appendix IX, for groundwater monitoring (U.S. EPA,
1990). Diphenylamine is not listed under Title m of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthoriza-
tion Act of 1986. No other guidelines or standards were located in the available literature.
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IX. ANALYTICAL METHODS
A gas chromatography method was described by Gutenmann and Lisk (1963) for the determina-
tion of DPA in apples. Apples to which DPA had been applied as scald-control were chopped and
blended with acetone. Filtered acetone samples were extracted with hexane (for instance, 1 mL of
acetone and IS mL of hexane were required for 3 ppm DPA in the fruit). Hie hexane extract was
then directly brominated (for instance, to 1 mL of hexane extract was added 0.1 mL of carbon tetra-
chloride saturated with iodine crystals containing by volume 5% liquid bromine; the mixture was
then heated for 10 minutes at 40-45°C) presumably to yield the ortho-, para-hexabromo derivative of
DPA. Suitable aliquot of hexane extract containing brominated DPA was dried by evaporation and
the bromination procedure was repeated. Finally a 5-10 jiL sample of hexane extract was subjected
to gas chromatography.
The experimental chromatographic conditions were: An U-shaped borosilicate glass column
packed with 5% ethyl acetate fractionated high-vacuum silicone grease on 80-100 mesh acid-washed
Chromosoib W; operating temperatures for column, flash heater, and detector were 235°, 275°, and
265°C, respectively; carrier gas was nitrogen, 60 mL/min; and the column was conditioned for
16 hours at 245°C before use. Hie recoveries of added DPA to apples (0.1-5.0 ppm) ranged from
97-118% (Table IX-1). The method was sensitive to about 0.02 ppm DPA. The complete analysis
took about one hour. The standard curve for DPA gave a straight line for 0.0002-0.001 pg DPA.
Alley and Dykes (1982) described a gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method for the separation
and estimation of diphenylamine (DPA). The authors developed this method essentially for deter-
mining nitrate esters, stabilizers and plasticizers used in a variety of nitrocellulose-based propellants
and found it to be precise, accurate, and time-saving.
A gas chromatograph with dual hydrogen flame ionization detector and an electronic digital
integrator was used. Dual chromatographic-grade stainless steel columns (1/8 inch X 2 feet) were
packed with solid support adsorbents Gas-Chrom q, Chromosarb W-HP, or Gas-Chrom Q slurried
with volatile solvent OV-101, OV-210, or OV-225. The packed columns were preconditioned at
250°C for 4-6 hours while maintaining a helium flow of 10-15 mL/min. Methylene chloride was
used for die direct analysis of most of the test samples. Normal alkanes were preferred for use as
internal standards because of the ease of handling. Specific GLC experimental conditions for DPA
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Table IX-1. Recovery of DP A Added to Apples by Direct Bromination Gas Chromatography
Apple Variety
Amount DPA Added (ppm)
Recovery (%)
Wagener
0.1
120

0.3
97

0.6
101

1.0
118

2.0
110

5.0
105
Cortland
1.0
108, 110
Mcintosh
1.0
118
SOURCE: Adapted from Gutenmann and Lisk (1963).
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were: Column temperature-programmed, from 70-220°C at 6°/min; Flame ionization detector temp-
erature, 225°C; and the other data are presented in Table IX-2. No other analytical method
specifically applicable to DPA was found in the available published literature.
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Table IX-2. Gas-Liquid Chromatography Retention Data for Diphenylamine
Columns
3.8% OV-101
2.5% OV-210
1.1% OV-225
Retention Time (minutes)*
8.65
1567
122
Kovats Index
6.26
1730
108
Retention Temperature (°Q
11.59
2151
140
"Retention time for methylene chloride solvent was 0.11 min.
SOURCE: Adapted from Alley and Dykes (1982).
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X. TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
No water treatment technologies for DPA were located in the available literature. However, the
U.S. EPA has developed a carbon-adsoiption isotherm of 120 mg/g for the adsorption of DPA on
activated carbon (Kirk-Othmer, 1984).
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XL CONCLUSIONS
No suitable study was available for use in the calculation of a One-day HA inspite of the fact
that there are several studies dealing with oral LDjqS as well as studies using one to three daily doses
of oral DPA in a number of animal species. All of these studies used high doses of DPA which
produced lethality or pronounced adverse effects. As such, no information on a LOAEL or NOAEL
could be obtained from them. Therefore, the Ten-day HA for a 10 kg child of 1.0 mg/L is suggested
as a conservative estimate for a One-day HA.
The Ten-day HA for a 10 kg child of 1.0 mg/L was derived using the LOAEL of 111 mg/kg/
day, which was based on reduced weights of liver, kidney, and spleen, in rats administered DPA
daily by oral gavage for 28 days.
Although there are a number of animal studies that investigated the long-term effects of DPA,
many of them used one or two high doses primarily with the object of producing kidney lesions in
the tested species to leam about the etiology of human polycystic kidney disease. These studies
were not useful in identifying a NOAEL or LOAEL of DPA. However, three chronic feeding
studies (two in rats and one in dogs) was found suitable for determining the Longer-term HA. Hie
Longer-term HA for a 10 kg child of 0.3 mg/L and that for a 70 kg adult of 1.0 mg/L were based on
the NOAEL of 2.5 mg/kg/day which in turn was based on the absence of depressed body weight
gain and adverse blood effects in beagle dogs fed DPA in the diet for over 400 days.
The Lifetime HA of 0.2 mg/L far a 70 kg adult was based on a Drinking Water Equivalent
Level of 1.0 mg/L. Hie DWEL is derived from a Reference Dose (RfD) of 0.03 mg/kg/day. For the
calculation of RfD, the NOAEL of 2.5 mg/kg/day derived from die 2-year dog feeding study based
on the absence of growth retardation and adverse hematological effects, was used. This study was
also used for the derivation of Longer-term HA as mentioned previously.
Diphenylamine was not carcinogenic in three cancer bioassays and one chronic study in dogs.
One of these studies was a lifetime study in rats and another one was a lifetime study in mice that
was not sufficiently reviewed. Some malignant and benign tumors observed in several organs in rats
was attributed to the age and senility of die animals and not treatment-related. Another carcino-
genicity study in rats used a non-conventional assay in that the rats were subjected to one maximum
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September 1992
tolerated dose of DPA given intraperitoneally and the animals were observed for a period of six
months. While known carcinogens gave positive responses by this method DPA did not produce any
malignancy. The chronic feeding study in dogs also did not produce any malignancy. Thus, in at
least two animal species, no evidence was found for the induction of cancer.
The carcinogenicity studies are considered to be inadequate because either design deficiencies or
lack of reported information limit the conclusions concerning the carcinogenic potential of DPA.
Based on this information, DPA is classified in Group D: not classifiable as to human carcino-
genicity.
A specific method related to the separation and analysis of DPA in drinking water was not found
in the published literature. However, two analytical methods described in the literature, one for the
determination of DPA in apples and the other for the determination of nitrate esters, stabilizers, and
plasticizers may be useful for the analysis of DPA in environmental samples. Both methods are
based on gas chromatography.
Water treatment technologies specific for DPA were not found in the available literature.
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September 1992
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and PS Lietman. 1986. Clinical evaluation of amoscanate in healthy male volunteers. American
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 35(5):945-953.
Singh, DS, R Bala-Subramaniam, VN Bhatia, V Kumaar and S Chandrasekar. 1981. Study of the
efficacy of compound Go.9333 (Ciba-Geigy) in hookworm infestation. Chemotherapy 27:220-223.
Slovak, AJM. 1980. Contact dermatitis due to benzisothiazolone in a works analytical team.
Contact Dermatitis 6:187-190.
Sorrentino, F, A Fella and A Pota. 1978. Diphenylamine-induced renal lesions in the chicken.
Urological Research 6:71-75.
Sweet, DV, ed. 1987. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. Vol 3,1985-86 edition.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control. Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 2105.
Thomas, JO, AJ Cox, Jr., and F DeEds. 1957. Kidney cysts produced by diphenylamine. Stanford
Medical Bulletin 15(2):90-93.
Thomas, JO, WE Ribelin, RH Wilson, DC Keppler and F DeEds. 1967a. Chronic toxicity of
diphenylamine to albino rats. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 10:362-374.
Thomas, JO, WE Ribelin, JR Woodward and F DeEds. 1967b. The chronic toxicity of diphenyl-
amine for dogs. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 11:184-194.
U.S. EPA. 1985. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health and Environmental Effects Profile
for N,N-Diphenylamine. Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and
Development. Cincinnati, OR NT1S No. PB88-176060.
U.S. EPA. 1986. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk
Assessment. Fed. Reg. 51(185):33992-34003. September 24.
U.S. EPA. 1990. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System
online database. Office of Research and Development
Vaidya, AB, GN Sen, NA Mankodi. T Paul and UK Sheth. 1977. Phase 1 tolerability and
searching dose studies with 4-isothiocyanato-4'-nitrodiphenylamine (C.9333-Go/CGP 4540), a new
anthelmintic. Br. J. Clin. Pharmac. 4:463-467.
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Health Advisory for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Wickramaratne, GAdeS. 1987. The Chemoff-Kavlock assay: its validation and application in rats.
Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 7:73-83.
Woodhouse, MA, J Offer and EM Darmady. 1965. Diphenylamine induced polycystic kidneys
compared with human polycystic kidneys: electron microscopical observations. Nephron 2(4):253-
254.
Yoshida, J, N Shimoji, K Furuta, N Takamura, C Uneyama, R Yazawa, K Imaida and Y Hayashi.
1989. Twenty-eight day repeated dose toxicity testing of diphenylamine in F344 rats. Eisei
Shikenjo Hokoku 107:56-62. (Japanese: English translation).
Zbozinek, JV. 1984. Environmental transformations of DPA, SOPP, benomyl, and TBZ. Residue
Reviews 92:114-155.
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APPENDIX A
Data Deficiencies, Problem Areas, and Recommendations
for Additional Database Development for Diphenylamine

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DATA DEFICIENCIES, PROBLEM AREAS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ADDITIONAL DATABASE DEVELOPMENT FOR DIPHENYLAMENE
A.	OBJECTIVES
The objective of this document is to provide an evaluation of data deficiencies and problem areas
encountered after a careful review of the literature on diphenylamine (DPA) and to make recom-
mendations for additional database development, if necessary. This document is presented as an
independent analysis of the current data related to DPA in drinking water, and it includes a summary
of the background information used in development of the Health Advisory (HA). For greater detail
on the toxicology of DPA, the Health Advisory for Diphenylamine (DPA) should be consulted.
B.	BACKGROUND
N,N-Diphenylamine or diphenylamine (DPA), also called N-phenylbenzeneamine, is a crystalline
solid at room temperature and the simplest of the diarylamines (Kirk-Othmer, 1978). Diarylamines
are aromatic organic compounds with two of the hydrogen atoms of ammonia replaced by aryl
groups. Diphenylamine is practically insoluble in water (30-35.7 mg/L at 2S°Q but soluble in
several organic solvents. Diphenylamine is produced by self-condensation of aniline in the presence
of ferrous chloride, ammonium bromide, and a small amount of a strong mineral acid. It is a
chemically reactive compound. The U.S. Tariff Commission listed five domestic producers of DPA
in 1975 with an annual production of 18,094 tons. Diphenylamine is also imported (U.S. EPA,
1985).
Diphenylamine is used to stabilize nitrocellulose explosives and celluloid in various gun propel-
lent compositions. It is also used extensively as a dip spray and impregnate of paper wraps to
prevent scald on apples and other fruits, and as an insecticide. Therapeutically, DPA derivatives are
used to treat helminthic infections. Diphenylamine is used in the manufacturing of dyes, polymers,
greases, and oils, in producing industrial antioxidants for rubber, and as an analytical reagent
(Budavari et al„ 1989). Diphenylamine has been detected in the effluent of manufacturing plants in
California, in Rhine River water, and in Norwegian rain water (U.S. EPA, 1985). It was also
detected in trace amounts in the ambient air of Geismar, LA (U.S. EPA, 1985). The U.S. Food and
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Drug Administration's Monitoring program and Total Diet Program, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's National Residue Program found DPA of undetermined concentration in only one fruit
sample and one infant and junior food formula in several thousands of samples tested during 1970-
1976.
Only a modicum of data are available on the fate of DPA in the environment. Information about
potential hydrolysis of DPA and photolysis in aqueous solutions are lacking. Rapid microbial degra-
dation of DPA occurred in a laboratory-model sewage sludge system (U.S. EPA, 198S). Based on
its solubility and calculated vapor pressure, DPA is predicted to volatilize slowly (U.S. EPA, 1985).
It is considered to have a medium-to-low mobility in soils (Briggs, 1981).
Although no specific animal or human data on the absorption and distribution of DPA following
ingestion were located, metabolic studies of DPA suggest that absorption occurs to some extent.
Diphenylamine is rapidly excreted in the urine and is found in the bile of male rats intraperitoneally
or intravenously injected with the compound (Alexander et al., 1965). In human urine samples
following a single oral dose of DPA, unchanged DPA, 4-Hydroxydiphenylamine (4-HDPA), and
4,4'-Dihydroxydiphenylamine were detected (Alexander et al., 1965). Glucuronic acid conjugate of
4-HDPA was the major metabolite found in the urine of rats intraperitoneally injected with a dose of
either DPA, 4-HDPA, or N-hydroxydiphenylamine (Alexander et al., 1965).
Except for some dermal studies in occupational workers, no epidemiological, clinical case
histories, or experimental studies of potential human health effects to DPA exposure are available.
Diphenylamine was not irritating to the skin of humans or rabbits (Slovak, 1980; Calnan, 1978;
Epstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978; Levenstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978).
Reported oral LDjoS for rats are 1.165 g/kg (Levenstein, 1976 cited in Opdyke, 1978), 3.2 g/kg
(Epstein et al., 1967 and Volodchenko, 1975 cited in Opdyke, 1978), and 2.0 g/kg (Korolev et al.,
1976); for mice 1.75 g/kg (Korolev et al., 1976); and for guinea pigs 300 mg/kg (Sweet, 1987).
Short-term studies with Sprague-Dawley rats, Syrian hamsters, and Mongolian geibils given 400,
600, or 800 mg DPA/kg/day in peanut oil once a day by gavage for 3 days showed that Syrian
hamsters are more sensitive to DPA-related mortality and renal pathologic damage than either the
rats or gerbils (Lenz and Carlton, 1990). These authors suggested a No Observed Adverse Effect
Level (NOAEL) of 400 mg/kg/day for acute renal pathologic changes (not including papillary
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
necrosis) in rats. However, in the Syrian hamsters, this dose produced 40% mortality and total renal
papillary necrosis and splenomegaly in 90% of the animals. In another gavage study, Powell et al.
(1985) observed necrosis of renal papilla and pars recta in Wistar rats given 4.1 mM (694 mg)
DPA/kg for 3 or 9 days. In mice gavaged once with 600 mg DPA/kg, Kronevi and Holmberg
(1979) observed high mortality and pathological abnormalities of the intestine, kidney, and liver.
In male and female F344 rats (6/group), daily doses of DPA (111, 333, or 1,000 mg/kg/day)
administered in olive oil by gavage for 28 days caused a treatment-related decrease in body weight
gain and in relative organ weights (most notably the liver); depressed erythrocyte and hemoglobin
levels; increased leukocytes, serum albumin, bilirubin, and potassium levels; and renal tubular
degeneration and necrosis, congestion and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen, bone marrow
hyperplasia, and mucosal changes in the forestomach (Yoshida et al., 1989). The Lowest-Observed-
Adverse-Effect-Level (LOAEL) is 111 mg/kg/day based on liver weight changes in male rats. The
25-day oral study in rats by Korolev et al. (1976) suggested a NOAEL of 16 mg DP A/kg/day but
presented no details of the results.
In a 8-month study, Thomas et al. (1957) investigated the effects of DPA on growth and the
anatomy of selected internal organs in 36 female weanling albino rats fed 0.025,0.1, 0.5,1.0, or
1.5% DPA in the diet (corresponding to calculated doses of 27.5,110,550,1,100, and 1,650
mg/kg/day, respectively) for 226 days. Dietary levels of 0.5% DPA or more caused a dose-related
decrease in body weight gain, hematogenic granular pigmentation in the liver and kidneys, and focal
dilatation of renal tubules with multiple cystic structures. The study suggested a NOAEL of 0.1%
(calculated dose of 110 mg/kg/day) for body weight gain and renal pathological changes in female
rats. A chronic study by Korolev et al. (1976) suggested a NOAEL of 0.5 mg/kg/day in male albino
rats based on die absence of several clinical chemistry parameters, reflex activity, and morphological
studies, but the authors did not present any details regarding animal species and number, dosing
frequency, study duration, or results.
A lifetime study in which Slonaker-Addis rats (20/sex/group) were fed diets containing 0.001,
0.01,0.1,0.5, or 1% DPA (corresponding to calculated doses of 1.1-999 mg/kg/day far males and
0.96-812 mg/kg/day for females) for 2 yean showed several DPA-related effects (Thomas et al.,
1967a). Levels above 0.1% dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without decreasing food
consumption, and at the 0.5 and 1% levels anemia characterized by reduced hemoglobin and erythro-
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
cyte levels occurred. Dilated cystic renal tubules accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis
occurred at the 0.1% level or more. This study suggested a NOAEL of 0.01% (calculated dose of
9.6 mg/kg/day). An unpublished report of this study (Booth, 1963) indicated that levels above 0.5%
dietary DPA depressed body weight gain without decreasing food consumption, and levels at or
above the 1% dietary DPA level, anemia characterized by reduced hemoglobin and erythrocytes
occurred. Dilated cystic renal tubules accompanied by chronic interstitial nephritis occurred at or
above the 0.5% level. These results suggest a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated dose of 100 mg/kg/day).
In a similar study, Thomas et al. (1967b) used a small number of beagle dogs fed a diet
containing 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1% DPA for 2 years and observed decreased body weight gain at or
above the 0.1% DPA level and a possible treatment-related decrease in hemoglobin and erythrocytes
at the 0.1% leveL Some pathological changes were found in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bone
marrow at the 1% level Kidney function tests were negative. Hie study suggested a NOAEL of
0.01% (calculated dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day based on Lehman [1959]). According to an unpublished
report of this study (Booth, 1963), growth inhibition, decreased blood hemoglobin and erythrocyte
levels, and pathological changes occurred at the 1% level suggesting a NOAEL of 0.1% (calculated
dose of 25 mg/kg/day based on Lehman [1959]).
Renal tubular dilatation and intrarenal cysts in rats have been caused by daily gavage of DPA at
4.1 mM (694 mg) DPA/kg daily for 3-9 days (Powell et al., 1985) and at 1.6 mM (271 mg) DPA/kg
for 1-8 weeks (Powell et al., 1983), and by the continuous ingestion of a diet containing DPA at
2.5% for 3-6 weeks (Eknoyan et al., 1976), at 2.5% for 19 weeks (Woodhouse et al., 1965; Darmady
et al., 1970), at 1.5% or 2.5% for 0.5-12 months (Safouth et al., 1970), at 2.5% for 12 months (Kime
et al., 1962), at 1% DPA for 18 months (Evans et al., 1976), and at 1% DPA for 5-20 months
(Gardner et al., 1976). Renal pathologic changes also have been observed in male NMRI mice given
1.4 g DPA/kg/day doses by oral gavage for 10 weeks (Kronevi and Holmberg, 1979).
Slonaker-Addis rats of both sexes maintained on a diet containing 0.1,0.25, or 0.5% DPA
starting at 35 days of age were mated twice and their offspring were mated (Thomas et al., 1967a).
Average litter size decreased as DPA level in the diet increased. Wickramaratne (1987) found no
DPA-related effects on litter size or survival in female Wistar rats given 1,000 mg/kg/day by oral
gavage during days 7-17 of gestation. Crocker and Vernier (1970, abstract) reported renal cystic
dilatation of the collecting ducts and vacuolar degeneration of the proximal tubules in all newborn
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
rats (species not specified) from dams fed 200 mg DPA/kg/day by gastric tube or 2.5% dietary DPA
(corresponding to a calculated dose of 2,500 mg/kg/day) during the last 6 days of gestation. In a
later study (Crocker et al., 1972), the DPA-related effects on the kidney of second generation
Sprague-Dawley rats was attributed to an unidentified contaminant chromatographically isolated from
DPA. This contaminant was given to dams by gastric tube at 50 pg/day in 2 mL of 70% ethanol
(calculated to be 0.5 mg/kg/day) during the last 6-7 days of gestation. No significant cystic changes
occurred in newborns from dams intragastrically intubated with chemically pure DPA (20 mg DPA/
rat in 2 mL of ethanol; calculated to be 200 mg/kg/day).
Diphenylamine was not carcinogenic to Sprague-Dawley rats given a single oral dose of 300 mg
DPA/kg over a 6-month period (Griswold et al., 1966) and in Slonaker-Addis rats given daily DPA
in the diet at concentrations of 0.001-1% (1.1 to 999 mg/kg/day) over a 2-year period (Thomas et al.,
1967a). Also, no evidence of dietary DPA-induced carcinogenicity occurred in mice over a 92 week
period (U.S. EPA, 1985). Negative results were obtained in a bioassay involving in vivo exposure of
Syrian hamster fetuses to DPA and in vitro culture of exposed fetal cells to observe neoplastic
transformation, if any (DiPaolo et al., 1973).
Diphenylamine tested negative in the Ames reverse mutation assay in S. typhimurium strains
TA98, TA100, TA1000, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, C3076, D3052, and G46 with and without S9
activation (Ferretti et al., 1976; Florin et al., 1980; Probst et al., 1981) as well as in E. coli strains
WP2 and WP2uvrA- with or without S9 activation (Probst et al., 1981). Diphenylamine also tested
negative in isolated mouse lymphoma cells with S9 activation (Amacher et al., 1980) and did not
cause unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes (Probst et al., 1981).
C. DISCUSSION
Data specific for DPA were not found in the published literature on many aspects of environ-
mental fate, for instance the photolysis of DPA in aqueous solutions with environmental photo-
sensidzers such as humic and fulvic acids, environmental hydrolysis, or sorption on soil. However,
there are some limited amount of data obtained under laboratory experimental conditions on the
distribution half-life of DPA in the atmosphere, the direct photolysis of DPA in a variety of organic
compounds such as ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and dyes, and the microbial degradation of DPA
in laboratory sludge systems.
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
There is no information on the absorption and distribution of ingested DPA in humans or experi-
mental animal species. It can be assumed that absorption does occur to some extent based on
metabolic studies of DPA. The urinary metabolites of DPA have been identified and characterized
in humans, rats, rabbits, and dogs following oral administration of DPA.
Short- or long-term exposure studies on DPA in humans were not found in the published
literature but there are a number of publications dealing with lethality, short- and long-term exposure
in several mammalian animal species. Only a few published studies were found that suggest that
DPA produces neither dermal irritation nor sensitization when applied topically to human or rabbit
skin. No report was available on the ophthalmological effect of DPA.
One of the main interests in the toxicology of DPA during the 1960s pertained to its effect on
kidneys. The toxic effects of DPA on the renal system were considered to resemble the effects
observed in human polycystic kidney disease. It was thought that DPA might serve as a useful
model substance for understanding the pathology of human polycystic kidney disease. Therefore, a
number of studies were published delineating the histopathology of renal effects of DPA. These
studies, especially in experimental rats, used one or two frankly toxic doses of DPA for short- or
long-term periods and thus, are not useful in establishing a LOAEL or NOAEL for the purposes of
suggesting health advisories. None the less, there are a sufficient number of well-executed
toxicologic studies, a 28-day feeding study, a 226-day feeding study, and a 734-day feeding study,
all in rats; a 2-year feeding study in beagle dogs; and a 92-week feeding study in mice that have
provided useful toxicological information.
The only published reproduction study in rats available is dated and not useful in assessing the
reproductive effects of DPA. As regards the developmental effects of DPA, there is only one
published abstract and the emphasis of this study was on the renal effects. Additionally, the sample
of commercial DPA used in this study may have been contaminated with other substances toxic to
the renal tissue.
There are several oral carcinogenicity studies that, when considered with mutagenicity effects,
provide useful information to the risk assessor, but do not allow an estimation of the carcinogenic
potential of DPA. DPA tested negative for mutagenicity in several microbial assays, in one forward
mutation assay in mouse lymphoma cells, and in a study of unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultured
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
rat hepatocytes. It would thus appear that DPA may induce genotoxic or carcinogenic effects in
humans.
D. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
•	Published information pertaining to the toxicokinetics of DPA covers minimally some aspects of
urinary excretion and metabolism. Therefore, further studies on absorption, distribution and
metabolism of DPA in mammalian species appear warranted.
•	There are a number of published toxicologic studies which are useful in understanding the
adverse health effects of DPA but a well-executed subchronic study is needed . The available 2-
year dog feeding study used very few number of animals. This species appears to be more
sensitive to the toxic effects of DPA than rats or mice. Thus, a new subchronic dog feeding
study, using a larger number of animals and several doses of DPA is recommended. This new
study would help to more clearly define the LOAEL and NOAEL than the currently available
study.
•	The available reproductive effects study was not performed according to the stringent
requirements currently required by the U.S. EPA. A new two-generation rat study for DPA is
highly recommended. Such a study would not only produce valuable information on the male
and female reproductive effects and developmental effects but also will provide new data for the
reevaluation of One-day and Ten-day Health Advisories for DPA. The currently available
information on developmental effects of DPA is not very useful.
•	There is insufficient data to conclude that DPA is not a likely human carcinogen. Well
conducted cancer bioassays in at least two different species arc required. Although mutagenicity
studies on DPA using bacterial systems are adequate, some more studies using nonmicrobial and
in vivo systems are recommended to fiuther substantiate the absence of genotoxic effects
observed in bacterid systems.
•	Since there is insufficient information on the environmental fate of DPA,	studies
pertaining to sorption on soils and sediments, hydrolysis, photolysis, and biotransformation of
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
DPA will provide the needed information for the future evaluation of the environmental effects
ofDPA.
E. REFERENCES
Alexander, WE, AJ Ryan and SE Wright. 1965. Metabolism of diphenylamine in the rat, rabbit and
man. Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 3:571-579.
Amacher, DE, SC Paillet, GN Turner, VA Ray and DS Salsburg. 1980. Point mutations at the
thymidine kinase locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. Mutation Research 72:447-474.
Booth, AN. 1963. Summary of toxilogical data—chronic toxicity studies on diphenylamine. Food
Cosmet. Toxicol. 1:331-333.
Briggs, GG. 1981. Theoretical and experimental relationships between soil adsorption, octanol-
water partition coefficients, water solubilities, bioconcentration factors, and the parachor. J. Agric.
Food Chem. 29:1050-1059.
Budavari, S, MJ O'Neil, A Smith and PE Heckelman, eds. 1989. The Merck Index • An
Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 11th ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc. 524-5.
Calnan, CD. 1978. Diphenylamine. Contact Dermatitis 4:301.
Crocker, JFS and RL Vernier. 1970. Chemically induced polycystic kidney disease in the newborn.
Pediatric Research 4(1):448 (abstract).
Crocker, JFS, DM Brown, RF Borch and RL Vernier. 1972. Renal cystic disease induced in
newborn rats by diphenylamine derivatives. Am. J. Pathol. 66(2):343-350.Darmady, EM, J Offer and
MA Woodhouse. 1970. Toxic metabolic defect in polycystic disease of kidney. Lancet 1:547-550.
Eknoyan, G, EJ Weinman, A Tsaparas, CC Usher, WE Yarger, WN Suki and M Martinez-
Maldonado. 1976. Renal function in experimental cystic disease of the rat J. Lab. Clin. Med.
88(3):402-411.
DiPaolo, JA, RL Nelson, PJ Donovan, CH Evans. 1973. Host-mediated in vivo—in vitro assay for
chemical carcinogenesis. Arch. Pathol. 95:380-385.
Evan, AP and KD Gardner. 1976. Comparison of human polycystic and medullary cystic kidney
disease with diphenylamine-induced cystic disease. Laboratory Investigation 35(1):93-101.
Ferretti, JJ, W Lu, M Liu. 1977 Mutagenicity of benzidine and related compounds employed in the
detection of hemoglobin. Am. J. Clin. Pathol 67:526-527.
Florin, I, L Rutberg, M Curvall and CR Enzell. 1980. Screening of tobacco smoke constituents for
mutagenicity using the Ames1 test. Toxicology 18:219-232.
Gardner, Jr, KD, S Solomon, WW Fitzgenel and AP Evan. 1976. Function and structure in the
diphenylamine-exposed kidney. Journal of Clinical Investigation 57:796-806.
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Database Assessment and Recommendations for Diphenylamine
September 1992
Griswold, DP Jr., AE Casey, EK Weisburger, JH Weisburger and FM Schabel Jr. 1966. On the
carcinogenicity of a single intragastric dose of hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, aromatic amines, dyes,
coumarins, and miscellaneous chemicals in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Cancer Research
26(l):619-625.
Kime, SW, JJ McNamara, S Luse, S Farmer, C Silbert and NS Bricker. 1962. Experimental poly-
cystic renal disease in rats: electron microscopy, function, and susceptibility to pyelonephritis. J.
Lab. and Clin. Med. 60(l):64-78.
Kirk-Othmer. 1978. Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Vol 2. 3rd ed. Amines, Aromatic
(Diarylamines). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 329-338.
Korolev, AA, MV Arsen'yeva, BR Vitoltskaya, TA Zakharova and AS Kinzirskiy. 1976. Experi-
mental data far hygienic standardization of diphenylamine and diphenylethylurate in water bodies.
Gig. Sanit 5:21-25. (Russian: English translation).
Kronevi, T and B Holmberg. 1979. Acute and subchronic kidney injuries in mice induced by
diphenylamine (DPA). Exp. Path. 17:77-81.
Lehman, AJ. 1959. Appraisal of safety of chemicals in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. Assoc. Drug
Officials. U.S. Quarterly Bulletin.FoodOpdyke, DLJ. 1978. Monographs on fragrance raw
materials. Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 16(Supp. l):723-727.
Lenz, SD and WW Carlton. 1990. Diphenylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis and necrosis of
the pars recta in laboratory rodents. Vet Pathol. 27:171-178.
Powell, CJ, PH Bach and JW Bridges. 1983. Subacute toxicity of diphenylamine and N-phenyl-
anthranilic acid Human Toxicology 2:565-566. (abstract).
Powell, CJ, T Adams, DE Hall, PH Bach and JW Bridges. 1985. The comparative sub-acute
nephrotoxicity of diphenylamine and N-phenylanthranilic acid. In: Bach, PH and EA Lock eds.
Renal Heterogeneity and Target Cell Toxicity. Monographs in Applied Toxicology No 2. New
York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 199-202.
Probst, OS, RE McMahon, LE Hill, CZ Thompson, JK Epp and SB NeaL 1981. Chemically-
induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary rat hepatocyte cultures: a comparison with bacterial
mutagenicity using 218 compounds. Environmental Mutagenisis 3:11-32.
Safouth, M, JFS Crocker and RL Vernier. 1970. Experimental cystic disease of the
kidney—sequential, functional, and morphologic studies. Laboratory Investigation 23(4):392-400.
Slovak, AJM. 1980. Contact dermatitis due to benzisothiazolone in a works analytical team.
Contact Dermatitis 6:187-190.
Sweet, DV, ed. 1987. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. Vol 3,1985-86 edition.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 2105.
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September 1992
Thomas, JO, AJ Cox, Jr., and F DeEds. 1957. Kidney cysts produced by diphenylamine. Stanford
Medical Bulletin 15(2):90-93.
Thomas, JO, WE Ribelin, RH Wilson, DC Keppler and F DeEds. 1967a. Chronic toxicity of
diphenylamine to albino rats. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 10:362-374.
Thomas, JO, WE Ribelin, JR Woodward and F DeEds. 1967b. The chronic toxicity of diphenyl-
amine for dogs. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 11:184-194.
U.S. EPA. 1985. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health and Environmental Effects Profile
for N,N-Diphenylamine. Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and
Development. Cincinnati, OH. NTIS No. PB88-176060.
Wickramaratne, GAdeS. 1987. The Chernoff-Kavlock assay: its validation and application in rats.
Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 7:73-83.
Woodhouse, MA, J Offer and EM Darmady. 1965. Diphenylamine induced polycystic kidneys
compared with human polycystic kidneys: electron microscopical observations. Nephron 2(4):253-
254.
Yoshida, J, N Shimoji, K Furuta, N Takamura, C Uneyama, R Yazawa, K Imaida and Y Hayashi.
1989. Twenty-eight day repeated dose toxicity testing of diphenylamine in F344 rats. Eisei
Shikenjo Hokoku 107:56-62. (Japanese: English translation).
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