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Bromoform
CASRN 75-25-2
Contents
0214
Bromoform; CASRN 75-25-2
Health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in IRIS only
after a comprehensive review of chronic toxicity data by U.S. EPA health
scientists from several Program Offices and the Office of Research and
Development. The summaries presented in Sections I and II represent a
consensus reached in the review process. Background information and
explanations of the methods used to derive the values given in IRIS are
provided in the Background Documents.
STATUS OF DATA FOR Bromoform
File On-Line 09/30/1987
Category (section) Status Last Revised
----------------------------------------- -------- ------------
Oral RfD Assessment (I.A.) on-line 03/01/1991
Inhalation RfC Assessment (I.B.) message 12/01/1993
Carcinogenicity Assessment (II.) on-line 01/01/1991
_I. CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENTS FOR NONCARCINOGENIC EFFECTS
__I.A. REFERENCE DOSE FOR CHRONIC ORAL EXPOSURE (RfD)
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
Last Revised -- 03/01/1991
The oral Reference Dose (RfD) is based on the assumption that thresholds exist
for certain toxic effects such as cellular necrosis. It is expressed in units
of mg/kg-day. In general, 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 an appreciable
risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. Please refer to the Background
Document for an elaboration of these concepts. RfDs can also be derived for
the noncarcinogenic health effects of substances that are also carcinogens.
Therefore, it is essential to refer to other sources of information concerning
the carcinogenicity of this substance. If the U.S. EPA has evaluated this
substance for potential human carcinogenicity, a summary of that evaluation
will be contained in Section II of this file.
___I.A.1. ORAL RfD SUMMARY
Critical Effect Experimental Doses* UF MF RfD
-------------------- ----------------------- ----- --- ---------
Hepatic lesions NOEL: 25 mg/kg/day 1000 1 2E-2
(converted to mg/kg/day
Rat, Subchronic Oral 17.9 mg/kg/day)
Gavage Bioassay
LOAEL: 50 mg/kg/day
NTP, 1989 (converted to
35.7 mg/kg/day)
*Conversion Factors: Doses have been adjusted for treatment schedule (5
days/week)
___I.A.2. PRINCIPAL AND SUPPORTING STUDIES (ORAL RfD)
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989. Toxicology and Carcinogenicity
Studies of Tribromomethane and Bromoform in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice
(gavage study). NTP-350. Research Triangle Park, NC.
Ten F344/N rats/sex were gavaged with 0, 12, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg
bromoform and 10 B6C3F1 mice/sex were gavaged with 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400
mg/kg bromoform 5 days/week for 13 weeks. Complete histology was conducted on
high-dose and vehicle control groups of both species. Liver histology was
conducted on all rats and on male mice receiving doses greater than 100 mg/kg.
Females of both species did not show any chemically-related effects. A
decrease in body weight of both sexes of mice was reported, but was not dose-
related. The male mice showed fatty metamorphosis of the liver at doses of
200 and 400 mg/kg. The only effect reported for male rats was a dose-related
increase in clear cell foci of the liver. A Fisher Exact Test showed that the
incidence of the clear cell foci at doses of 50 mg/kg (the LOAEL) or above was
statistically elevated relative to the vehicle control (p=0.035), therefore,
25 mg/kg is the NOEL for F344/N rats (NTP, 1989).
Subchronic rat studies by Chu et al. (1982a,b) are not considered suitable for
derivation of the RfD because of difficulties in interpretation of study
design and statistical methodology. Tobe et al. (1982) described changes in
histology in rats that were not supported by changes in function.
___I.A.3. UNCERTAINTY AND MODIFYING FACTORS (ORAL RfD)
UF -- Factors of 10 each were employed for use of a subchronic assay, for
extrapolation from animal data, and for protection of sensitive human
subpopulation.
MF -- None
___I.A.4. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (ORAL RfD)
There are no adequate published data on teratogenicity or reproductive effects
of trihalomethanes.
___I.A.5. CONFIDENCE IN THE ORAL RfD
Study -- Medium
Data Base -- Medium
RfD -- Medium
The NTP (1989) study utilized both sexes of two species of animals. Both
species showed liver lesions, but the study did not investigate clinical
chemistries or perform urinalysis; thus, confidence in the study is rated
medium. Several studies support the choice of hepatic lesions as the critical
effect for the basis of the RfD, but the chosen study is of subchronic
duration and reproductive effects have not been monitored; thus, the data base
is rated medium to low. Medium to low confidence in the RfD follows.
___I.A.6. EPA DOCUMENTATION AND REVIEW OF THE ORAL RfD
Source Document -- U.S. EPA, 1985
The 1985 Drinking Water Criteria Document for Trihalomethanes is currently
undergoing Agency review.
Other EPA Documentation -- None
Agency Work Group Review -- 12/02/1985, 02/05/1986, 05/14/1986, 08/13/1987
Verification Date -- 08/13/1987
___I.A.7. EPA CONTACTS (ORAL RfD)
Please contact the Risk Information Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general, at (513)569-7254 (phone), (513)569-7159 (FAX)
or RIH.IRIS@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (internet address).
__I.B. REFERENCE CONCENTRATION FOR CHRONIC INHALATION EXPOSURE (RfC)
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
The health effects data for bromoform (tribromomethane) were reviewed by
the U.S. EPA RfD/RfC Work Group and determined to be inadequate for the
derivation of an inhalation RfC. The verification status for this chemical is
currently NOT VERIFIABLE. For additional information on the health effects of
this chemical, interested parties are referred to the U.S. EPA documentation
listed below.
NOT VERIFIABLE status indicates that the U.S. EPA RfD/RfC Work Group
deemed the database at the time of review to be insufficient to derive an
inhalation RfC according to the Interim Methods for Development of Inhalation
Reference Concentrations (U.S. EPA, 1990). This status does not preclude the
use of information in cited references for assessment by others.
Tribromomethane is a colorless, heavy liquid with a sweetish odor.
Currently, tribromomethane is generated in small amounts for use in
laboratories and in electronics testing (ATSDR, 1990). The health effects of
exposure to tribromomethane have been reviewed (U.S. EPA, 1991).
Low-level inhalation exposure of humans to tribromomethane results in
irritation, lacrimation, and reddening of the face (Sax and Lewis, 1989),
suggesting the potential for portal-of-entry effects. The information
available on inhalation exposure in laboratory animals comes primarily from
older studies that employed high concentrations for acute durations. In these
studies, the CNS, liver, and kidney appear to be the major target organs
following acute inhalation exposures. Exposure to tribromomethane vapors may
also cause irritation to the respiratory tract and lacrimation (von Oettingen,
1955).
The only studies of subchronic-duration inhalation exposure are reported
in abstracts that do not provide sufficient detail for critical evaluation.
Tribromomethane had a narcotic effect on rabbits administered single
inhalation exposures of 1064-1741 ppm tribromomethane (Dykan, 1964). Rats
administered 240 ppm tribromomethane vapor for 10 days developed CNS effects
and dystrophic and vascular alterations of the liver and kidney (Dykan, 1964).
Vapor concentrations of 24 ppm for 2 months also induced hepatic disorders,
characterized by decreased blood clotting and impaired glycogenesis, and
altered renal filtration capacity (Dykan, 1962). A concentration of 4.8 ppm
tribromomethane in rats did not elicit any adverse effects in rats after 2
months of exposure (Dykan, 1964). These reports provide no details regarding
exposure generation or characterization, specific effect measures, or results
and are inadequate for derivation of an RfC.
Severe CNS depression was observed in dogs and guinea pigs following acute
exposure to extremely high levels (concentrations not specified) (Graham,
1915). Clinical signs included deep sedation, narcosis, and sleep. The CNS
depression was rapid in onset and transient, disappearing within a day
following cessation of exposure. This study is of limited value because of
poor descriptive details on the protocol and unquantified exposure
concentrations.
In the early 1900s, tribromomethane was administered as a sedative to
children suffering from whooping cough, and several deaths resulted from
accidental overdoses (von Oettingen, 1955). The most obvious clinical sign in
these fatal cases was profound depression of the CNS that was manifested as
unconsciousness, stupor, and loss of reflexes. Death was usually the result
of respiratory failure (von Oettingen, 1955). These case reports are of
limited value because doses were not quantified; however, the doses were
likely in the range of 20-40 drops (150-300 mg/kg/day).
The principal cause of death in laboratory animals following acute oral
exposure to tribromomethane is CNS depression (Bowman et al., 1978). Moody
and Smuckler (1986) exposed Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 3) to single gavage doses
of 1000 mg/kg tribromomethane and observed significant reductions in the liver
microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and aminolevulinic acid-dehydratase
activity and increases in porphyrin and glutathione content. These effects
suggest disturbances in hepatic heme metabolism, because porphyrins are major
intermediates in heme synthesis. Chu et al. (1980) reported that female rats
were more sensitive than male rats to lethal doses of tribromomethane based on
LD50 values of 1388 and 1147 for males and females, respectively.
Studies of 14-90 days duration in rats and mice exposed by gavage have
reported liver, kidney, and thyroid effects, as well as transient lethargy at
high concentrations (Chu et al., 1982; Condie et al., 1983; NTP, 1989a; Munson
et al., 1982). In the NTP (1989a) study, the incidences of hepatocyte
vacuolization in male rats were 3/10, 6/10, 5/10, 8/10, 8/10, and 10/10 for
the control, 12-, 25-, 50-, 100-, and 200-mg/kg groups, respectively. In
mice, 5/10 male mice that received 200 mg/kg and 8/10 male mice that received
400 mg/kg tribromomethane developed cytoplasmic vacuolization. This dose-
related, minimal-to-moderate change involved only a few cells or was diffuse.
Behavioral effects (decreased response rate in an operant-conditioning test)
were also reported in mice treated by gavage with 100 or 400 mg/kg/day for 60
days (Balster and Borzelleca, 1982).
A 2-year chronic gavage bioassay was conducted in F344/N rats and B6C3F1
mice (50/sex/group), in which doses of 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg (rats and female
mice) or 0, 50, or 100 mg/kg (male mice) tribromomethane were administered 5
days/week for 103 weeks (NTP, 1989a). In the high-dose rats (both sexes),
mean body weights were significantly (10-28%) lower than controls throughout
the second year of the study. Survival of the male rats administered 200
mg/kg was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) after week 91. Dose-related
lethargy was observed in male and female rats. Nonneoplastic changes,
including fatty change and scattered minimal necrosis (males) and mixed cell
foci (females), occurred in the liver of treated rats. The incidence of focal
or diffuse fatty change in both sexes was increased (males: 23/50, 49/50, and
50/50; females: 19/50, 39/50, and 46/50). The lowest dose tested in this
bioassay (100 mg/kg/day) induced effects on the liver, salivary gland,
prostate gland, lungs, and forestomach, and thus is considered a LOAEL for
rats.
High-dose female mice developed an increased incidence of follicular cell
hyperplasia of the thyroid gland (5/49, 4/49, and 19/47). Female mice in both
groups exhibited increased incidences of minimal-to-mild fatty change of the
liver consisting of scattered hepatocyte foci with vacuolated cytoplasm (1/49,
9/50, and 24/50). Thus, 100 mg/kg also is considered a LOAEL for liver
changes in female mice.
No studies were available regarding the respiratory tract absorption of
tribromomethane in humans or laboratory animals. After oral administration,
tribromomethane is rapidly absorbed. Gastrointestinal absorption following
oral exposure has been estimated to be 60-90% complete following a single
gavage dose; this percentage of the administered dose was recovered in the
expired air, urine, or in the tissues (Mink et al., 1986).
The metabolism of tribromomethane is similar to the metabolism of other
trihalomethanes (Anders et al., 1978; Stevens and Anders, 1979, 1981).
Developmental effects were monitored following gavage administration of
50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day tribromomethane to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats
(15/group) from days 6-15 of gestation (Ruddick et al., 1983). Slight
increases in several skeletal anomalies were observed in treated animals and,
to a lesser extent, in controls. No other significant maternal toxicity,
fetotoxicity, or teratogenicity was observed.
In a reproductive study, effects of tribromomethane were assessed in Swiss
CD-1 mice (n = 17-20/group) exposed by gavage to 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day
(NTP, 1989b). Postnatal survival was significantly decreased in the 200-
mg/kg/day group. No other reproductive effects were seen in the F1 or F2
generations.
The data base for tribromomethane is inadequate for the derivation of an
RfC. No chronic or subchronic inhalation studies on tribromomethane, and no
reproductive or developmental studies that employed an inhalation exposure
regimen were found. The toxicokinetic data for the inhalation route are
insufficient for route-to-route extrapolation from oral data, and the
potential for portal-of-entry (respiratory tract) toxicity has not been
adequately characterized.
Anders, M.W., J.L. Stevens, R.W. Sprague, Z. Shaath, and A.E. Ahmed. 1978.
Metabolism of haloforms to carbon monoxide. II. In vivo studies. Drug.
Metab. Dispos. 6(5): 556-560.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 1990.
Toxicological Profile for Bromoform and Chlorodibromomethane. Prepared by
Life Systems for ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service.
Balster, R.L. and J.R. Borzelleca. 1982. Behavioral toxicity of
trihalomethane contaminants of drinking water in mice. Environ. Health.
Perspect. 46: 127-136.
Bowman, F., J.F. Borzelleca, and A.E. Munson. 1978. The toxicity of some
halomethanes in mice. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 44(1): 213-215.
Chu, I., V. Secours, I. Marino, and D.C. Villeneuve. 1980. The acute
toxicity of four trihalomethanes in male and female rats. Toxicol. Appl.
Pharmacol. 52(2): 351-353.
Chu, I., D.C. Villeneuve, V.E. Secours, G.C. Becking, and V.E. Valli. 1982.
Trihalomethanes: II. Reversibility of toxicological changes produced by
chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform in rats.
J. Environ. Sci. Health. B17(3): 225-240.
Condie, L.W., C.L. Smallwood, and R.D. Laurie. 1983. Comparative renal and
hepatoxicity of halomethanes: Bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform,
dibromochloromethane and methylene chloride. Drug. Chem. Toxicol. 6(6):
563-578.
Dykan, V.A. 1962. Changes in liver and kidney functions due to methylene
bromide and bromoform. Nauchn. Tr. Ukr. Nauchn-Issled Inst. Gigieny. Truda i
Profzabolevanii. 29: 82-90. (Chem. Abstracts. 60: 8541d).
Dykan, V.A. 1964. Problems on toxicology, clinical practice, and work
hygiene in the production of bromine-organic compounds. Gigiena. 5b: 100-
103. (Chem. Abstracts. 63: 154299).
Graham, E.A. 1915. Late poisoning with chloroform and other alkyl halides in
relationship to the halogen acids formed by their chemical dissociation. J.
Exp. Med. 221: 48-75.
Mink, F.L., T.J. Brown, and J. Rickabaugh. 1986. Absorption, distribution,
and excretion of 14C-trihalomethanes in mice and rats. Bull. Environ. Contam.
Toxicol. 37(5): 752-758.
Moody, D.E. and E.A. Smuckler. 1986. Disturbances in hepatic heme metabolism
in rats administered alkyl halides. Toxicol. Lett. 32(3): 209-214.
Munson, A.E., L.E. Sain, V.M. Sanders, et al. 1982. Toxicology of organic
drinking-water contaminants--trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane,
dibromochloromethane, and tribromomethane. Environ. Health Perspectives. 46:
117-126.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989a. Toxicology and carcinogenesis
studies of tribromomethane (bromoform) (CAS No. 75-25-2) in F344/N rats and
B6C3F1 mice (gavage studies). Technical Report Series No. 350. U.S.
DHHS, Public Health Service, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle
Park, NC. NIH Pub. No. 88-2805. NTIS/PB90-110149.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989b. Bromoform reproduction and
fertility assessment in Swiss CD-1 mice when administered by gavage. NTP-89-
068. NTIS/PB89-169254.
Ruddick, J.A., D.C. Villeneuve, I. Chu, and V.E. Valli. 1983. A
teratological assessment of four trihalomethanes in the rat. J. Environ. Sci.
Health. B18(3): 333-349.
Sax, N.I. and R.J. Lewis. 1989. Dangerous Properties of Industrial
Materials, Seventh Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY.
Stevens, J.L. and M.W. Anders. 1979. Metabolism of haloforms to carbon
monoxide: 3. Studies on the mechanism of the reaction. Biochem. Pharmacol.
28(21): 3189-3194.
Stevens, J.L. and M.W. Anders. 1981. Metabolism of haloforms to carbon
monoxide: 4. Studies on the reaction mechanism in vivo. Chem. Biol.
Interact. 37(3): 365-374.
U.S. EPA. 1990. Interim Methods for Development of Inhalation Reference
Concentrations (External Review Draft). Office of Health and Environmental
Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Research Triangle
Park, NC. EPA/600/8-90/066A.
U.S. EPA. 1991. Health and Environmental Effects Document for Bromoform.
Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH
for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. NTIS/PB91-216424.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1955. The halogenated aliphatics, olefinic, cyclic
aromatic, and aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbons including the halogenated
insecticides, their toxicity and potential dangers. U.S. DHEW, Public Health
Service, Washington, DC. Publ. No. 414. p. 65-67. (Cited In: ATSDR, 1990).
Agency Work Group Review -- 02/11/1993
EPA Contacts:
Please contact the Risk Information Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general, at (513)569-7254 (phone), (513)569-7159 (FAX)
or RIH.IRIS@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (internet address).
_II. CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT FOR LIFETIME EXPOSURE
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
Last Revised -- 01/01/1991
Section II provides information on three aspects of the carcinogenic
assessment for the substance in question; the weight-of-evidence judgment of
the likelihood that the substance is a human carcinogen, and quantitative
estimates of risk from oral exposure and from inhalation exposure. The
quantitative risk estimates are presented in three ways. The slope factor is
the result of application of a low-dose extrapolation procedure and is
presented as the risk per (mg/kg)/day. The unit risk is the quantitative
estimate in terms of either risk per ug/L drinking water or risk per ug/cu.m
air breathed. The third form in which risk is presented is a drinking water
or air concentration providing cancer risks of 1 in 10,000, 1 in 100,000 or 1
in 1,000,000. The rationale and methods used to develop the carcinogenicity
information in IRIS are described in The Risk Assessment Guidelines of 1986
(EPA/600/8-87/045) and in the IRIS Background Document. IRIS summaries
developed since the publication of EPA's more recent Proposed Guidelines for
Carcinogen Risk Assessment also utilize those Guidelines where indicated
(Federal Register 61(79):17960-18011, April 23, 1996). Users are referred to
Section I of this IRIS file for information on long-term toxic effects other
than carcinogenicity.
__II.A. EVIDENCE FOR CLASSIFICATION AS TO HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY
___II.A.1. WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE CLASSIFICATION
Classification -- B2; probable human carcinogen
Basis -- Based on inadequate human data and sufficient evidence of
carcinogenicity in animals, namely an increased incidence of tumors after oral
administration of bromoform in rats and intraperitoneal administration in
mice. Bromoform is genotoxic in several assay systems. Also, bromoform is
structurally related to other trihalomethanes (e.g., chloroform,
bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane) which have been verified as either
probable or possible carcinogens.
___II.A.2. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA
Inadequate. Cantor et al. (1978) suggests a positive correlation between
levels of trihalomethane in drinking water and the incidence of several human
cancers. Additional geographic studies of bromoform indicate that there may
be an association between the levels of trihalomethanes in drinking water and
the incidence of bladder, colon, rectal, or pancreatic cancer in humans
(Kraybill, 1980; Cotruvo, 1981; Carlo and Mettlin, 1980; Isacson et al., 1983;
Crump, 1983). However, the information from these studies is considered
incomplete and preliminary because their designs do not permit consideration
of several possible variables which may be involved (e.g., personal habits,
information on residential histories, and past exposures) (NTP, 1988).
___II.A.3. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA
Sufficient. Bromoform has been tested for carcinogenicity in two species,
rat and mouse, by oral or intraperitoneal administration.
In a gavage study (NTP, 1988), F344/N rats (50/sex/group) and B6C3F1 mice
(50/sex/group) were administered bromoform in corn oil by gavage 5 days/week
for 2 years at 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg (rats and female mice) or 0, 50, or 100
mg/kg (male mice). Decreased body weight and survival in rats and female mice
suggest that the MTD was reached. In male rats, mean body weight was
decreased in the high- and low-dose groups by 12-28% and 5-14%, respectively.
Survival was significantly lower in the high-dose males after week 91. In
female rats, body weight was decreased in the high-dose group by 10-25%. In
male mice, body weight and survival were comparable to controls. In female
mice, however, body weight was decreased in the high- and low-dose groups by
5-16% and 6-11%, respectively; survival was significantly lower in both dose
groups after week 77.
Neoplastic lesions (adenomatous polyps or adenocarcinomas) were observed
in the large intestine (colon or rectum) of male rats (0/50, 0/50, 3/50) and
female rats (0/50, 1/50, 8/50) rats. Adenocarcinomas alone were not
significantly increased compared with controls. The reduced survival of male
rats in the high-dose group may account for the lower incidence of lesions in
this group. No treatment-related tumors were observed in mice at either dose
level. Under the conditions of this study, the NTP judged there was clear
evidence of carcinogenicity for female rats, some evidence of carcinogenicity
for male rats, and no evidence of carcinogenicity for male and female mice.
Theiss et al. (1977) administered bromoform by i.p. injection to male A/St
mice (20/group). Doses of 100, 48, and 4 mg/kg were given 3 times/week for a
total of 24, 23 or 18 injections, respectively. Mice in the control group
received 24 i.p. injections of the vehicle, tricaprylin. Animals were
sacrificed 24 weeks after the first injection and the lungs were examined for
surface adenomas. Some surface nodules were examined histologically to
confirm the morphological appearance of adenomas. The number of lung
tumors/mouse for the control, low-, mid-, and high-dose groups were 0.27,
0.53, 1.13, and 0.67 respectively. Only the ratio of the mid-dose group was
statistically significantly elevated over that of controls.
In a feeding study with microencapsulated bromoform, Kurokawa (1987)
observed no evidence of carcinogenicity in male or female Wistar rats exposed
for 24 months at concentrations of 400, 1600, or 6500 ppm.
___II.A.4. SUPPORTING DATA FOR CARCINOGENICITY
Pereira et al. (1982a,b) determined that bromoform did not induce GGTase-
positive foci in the rat liver at 1 mM (253 mg/kg) or 0.8 mM (202 mg/kg)
following a 2/3 hepatectomy and promotion with phenobarbital. However,
Pereira (1983) found that bromoform is a potent inducer of ornithine
decarboxylase, which is an indication of tumor promotion activity in the skin
and liver.
Bromoform has been shown to produce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium
strains TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA1535 with and without rat hepatic homogenates
(NTP, 1988; Simmon and Tardiff, 1978; Simmon, 1977, 1981; Simmon et al., 1977;
Tardiff et al., 1978). Bromoform also produces mutations at the TK locus in
mouse cells (NTP, 1988); SCE induction in Chinese hamster ovary cells, human
lymphocytes (in vitro) and mouse bone marrow cells (in vivo) (Galloway et al.,
1985; Morimoto and Koizumi, 1983; NTP, 1988); chromosomal aberrations in
Chinese hamster ovary cells (Galloway et al., 1985); cell cycle delay in human
lymphocytes (Morimoto and Koizumi, 1983); and an increased incidence of
micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes from mice given bromoform i.p. (NTP,
1988).
__II.B. QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATE OF CARCINOGENIC RISK FROM ORAL EXPOSURE
___II.B.1. SUMMARY OF RISK ESTIMATES
Oral Slope Factor -- 7.9E-3 per (mg/kg)/day
Drinking Water Unit Risk -- 2.3E-7 per (ug/L)
Extrapolation Method -- Linearized multistage procedure, extra risk
Drinking Water Concentrations at Specified Risk Levels:
Risk Level Concentration
-------------------- -------------
E-4 (1 in 10,000) 4E+2 ug/L
E-5 (1 in 100,000) 4E+1 ug/L
E-6 (1 in 1,000,000) 4E+0 ug/L
___II.B.2. DOSE-RESPONSE DATA (CARCINOGENICITY, ORAL EXPOSURE)
Tumor Type -- Neoplastic lesions in the large intestine
Test Animals -- F344/N rat, female
Route -- gavage in corn oil
Reference -- NTP, 1988
Administered Human Equivalent Tumor
Dose (ppm) Dose (mg/kg)/day Incidence
------------ ---------------- ---------
0 0 0/50
100 10.6 1/50
200 20.5 8/50
___II.B.3. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (CARCINOGENICITY, ORAL EXPOSURE)
The unit risk should not be used if the water concentration exceeds 4E+4
ug/L, since above this concentration the unit risk may not be appropriate.
Pharmacokinetic data indicate that gastrointestinal absorption of bromoform in
rats is greater than or equal to 80%. However, in the absence of more
definitive data, gastrointestinal absorption of 100% was assumed.
___II.B.4. DISCUSSION OF CONFIDENCE (CARCINOGENICITY, ORAL EXPOSURE)
An adequate number of animals was treated for an adequate duration of
exposure by a relevant route at two non-zero dose levels. Comprehensive
histopathological and statistical analyses were performed.
__II.C. QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATE OF CARCINOGENIC RISK FROM INHALATION EXPOSURE
___II.C.1. SUMMARY OF RISK ESTIMATES
Inhalation Unit Risk -- 1.1E-6 per ug/cu.m
Extrapolation Method -- Linearized multistage procedure, extra risk
Air Concentrations at Specified Risk Levels:
Risk Level Concentration
-------------------- -------------
E-4 (1 in 10,000) 9E+1 ug/cu.m
E-5 (1 in 100,000) 9 ug/cu.m
E-6 (1 in 1,000,000) 9E-1 ug/cu.m
___II.C.2. DOSE-RESPONSE DATA FOR CARCINOGENICITY, INHALATION EXPOSURE
This unit risk was calculated from the oral data presented in II.B.2.
___II.C.3. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (CARCINOGENICITY, INHALATION EXPOSURE)
The inhalation quantitative risk estimate is based on tumor incidence in
rats treated by gavage. Several factors suggest that the tumorigenic response
is a systemic rather than portal-of-entry effect. Pharmacokinetic data
suggest that gastrointestinal absorption is rapid and biotransformation is an
activating mechanism. A default value of 50% absorption was used because no
data are available to quantify the extent of respiratory absorption.
___II.C.4. DISCUSSION OF CONFIDENCE (CARCINOGENICITY, INHALATION EXPOSURE)
Kinetic data for the metabolism of bromoform are insufficient to establish
route-specific metabolized doses. Because these data are insufficient, the
inhalation cancer unit risk is based on internal dosage estimated from an oral
study.
__II.D. EPA DOCUMENTATION, REVIEW, AND CONTACTS (CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT)
___II.D.1. EPA DOCUMENTATION
Source Document -- U.S. EPA, 1988
The 1988 Health and Environmental Effects Document is an external draft for
review purposes only and has not received Agency review.
___II.D.2. REVIEW (CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT)
Agency Work Group Review -- 08/02/1989
Verification Date -- 08/02/1989
___II.D.3. U.S. EPA CONTACTS (CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT)
Please contact the Risk Information Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general, at (513)569-7254 (phone), (513)569-7159 (FAX)
or RIH.IRIS@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (internet address).
_VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
Last Revised -- 12/01/1993
__VI.A. ORAL RfD REFERENCES
Chu, I., D.C. Villeneuve, V.E. Secours and G.C. Becking. 1982a. Toxicity of
trihalomethanes: I. The acute and subacute toxicity of chloroform,
bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform in rats. J. Environ.
Sci. Health. B17(3): 205-224.
Chu, I., D.C. Villeneuve, V.E. Secours and G.C. Becking. 1982b.
Trihalomethanes: II. Reversibility of toxicological changes produced by
chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform in rats.
J. Environ. Sci. Health. B17(3): 225-240.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989. Toxicology and Carcinogenicity
Studies of Tribromomethane and Bromoform in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice
(gavage study). NTP-350. Research Triangle Park, NC.
Tobe, M., Y. Suzuki, K. Aida, H. Yoshimoto, et al. 1982. Studies on the
chronic oral toxicity of tribromomethane, dibromochloromethane, and
bromodichloromethane. Unpublished interagency report to the National
Institute of Hygienic Sciences. Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo,
Japan.
U.S. EPA. 1985. Drinking Water Criteria Document for Trihalomethanes.
Office of Drinking Water, Washington, DC. (External Review Draft)
__VI.B. INHALATION RfD REFERENCES
Anders, M.W., J.L. Stevens, R.W. Sprague, Z. Shaath, and A.E. Ahmed. 1978.
Metabolism of haloforms to carbon monoxide. II. In vivo studies. Drug.
Metab. Dispos. 6(5): 556-560.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). 1990.
Toxicological Profile for Bromoform and Chlorodibromomethane. Prepared by
Life Systems for ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service.
Balster, R.L. and J.R. Borzelleca. 1982. Behavioral toxicity of
trihalomethane contaminants of drinking water in mice. Environ. Health.
Perspect. 46: 127-136.
Bowman, F., J.F. Borzelleca, and A.E. Munson. 1978. The toxicity of some
halomethanes in mice. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 44(1): 213-215.
Chu, I., V. Secours, I. Marino, and D.C. Villeneuve. 1980. The acute
toxicity of four trihalomethanes in male and female rats. Toxicol. Appl.
Pharmacol. 52(2): 351-353.
Chu, I., D.C. Villeneuve, V.E. Secours, G.C. Becking, and V.E. Valli. 1982.
Trihalomethanes: II. Reversibility of toxicological changes produced by
chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform in rats.
J. Environ. Sci. Health. B17(3): 225-240.
Condie, L.W., C.L. Smallwood, and R.D. Laurie. 1983. Comparative renal and
hepatoxicity of halomethanes: Bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform,
dibromochloromethane and methylene chloride. Drug. Chem. Toxicol. 6(6):
563-578.
Dykan, V.A. 1962. Changes in liver and kidney functions due to methylene
bromide and bromoform. Nauchn. Tr. Ukr. Nauchn-Issled Inst. Gigieny. Truda i
Profzabolevanii. 29: 82-90. (Chem. Abstracts. 60: 8541d).
Dykan, V.A. 1964. Problems on toxicology, clinical practice, and work
hygiene in the production of bromine-organic compounds. Gigiena. 5b: 100-
103. (Chem. Abstracts. 63: 154299).
Graham, E.A. 1915. Late poisoning with chloroform and other alkyl halides in
relationship to the halogen acids formed by their chemical dissociation. J.
Exp. Med. 221: 48-75.
Mink, F.L., T.J. Brown, and J. Rickabaugh. 1986. Absorption, distribution,
and excretion of 14C-trihalomethanes in mice and rats. Bull. Environ. Contam.
Toxicol. 37(5): 752-758.
Moody, D.E. and E.A. Smuckler. 1986. Disturbances in hepatic heme metabolism
in rats administered alkyl halides. Toxicol. Lett. 32(3): 209-214.
Munson, A.E., L.E. Sain, V.M. Sanders, et al. 1982. Toxicology of organic
drinking-water contaminants--trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane,
dibromochloromethane, and tribromomethane. Environ. Health Perspectives. 46:
117-126.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989a. Toxicology and carcinogenesis
studies of tribromomethane (bromoform) (CAS No. 75-25-2) in F344/N rats and
B6C3F1 mice (gavage studies). Technical Report Series No. 350. U.S.
DHHS, Public Health Service, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle
Park, NC. NIH Pub. No. 88-2805. NTIS/PB90-110149.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1989b. Bromoform reproduction and
fertility assessment in Swiss CD-1 mice when administered by gavage. NTP-89-
068. NTIS/PB89-169254.
Ruddick, J.A., D.C. Villeneuve, I. Chu, and V.E. Valli. 1983. A
teratological assessment of four trihalomethanes in the rat. J. Environ. Sci.
Health. B18(3): 333-349.
Sax, N.I. and R.J. Lewis. 1989. Dangerous Properties of Industrial
Materials, Seventh Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY.
Stevens, J.L. and M.W. Anders. 1979. Metabolism of haloforms to carbon
monoxide: 3. Studies on the mechanism of the reaction. Biochem. Pharmacol.
28(21): 3189-3194.
Stevens, J.L. and M.W. Anders. 1981. Metabolism of haloforms to carbon
monoxide: 4. Studies on the reaction mechanism in vivo. Chem. Biol.
Interact. 37(3): 365-374.
U.S. EPA. 1990. Interim Methods for Development of Inhalation Reference
Concentrations (External Review Draft). Office of Health and Environmental
Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Research Triangle
Park, NC. EPA/600/8-90/066A.
U.S. EPA. 1991. Health and Environmental Effects Document for Bromoform.
Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH
for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. NTIS/PB91-216424.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1955. The halogenated aliphatics, olefinic, cyclic
aromatic, and aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbons including the halogenated
insecticides, their toxicity and potential dangers. U.S. DHEW, Public Health
Service, Washington, DC. Publ. No. 414. p. 65-67. (Cited In: ATSDR, 1990).
__VI.C. CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT REFERENCES
Cantor, K.P., R. Hoover, T.J. Mason and L.J. McCabe. 1978. Associations of
cancer mortality with halomethanes in drinking water. J. Natl. Cancer Inst.
61(4): 979-985.
Carlo, G.L. and C.J. Mettlin. 1980. Cancer incidence and trihalomethane
concentrations in a public drinking water system. Am. J. Public Health.
70(5): 523-525.
Cotruvo, J.A. 1981. THMs in drinking water. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15(3):
268-274.
Crump, K.S. 1983. Chlorinated drinking water and cancer: The strength of the
epidemiologic evidence. In: Water Chlorination: Environmental Impact and
Health Effects, Vol. 4. Environment, Health, and Risk, Book 2, R.L. Jolley,
W.A. Brungs, J.A. Cotruvo, R.B. Cumming, J.S. Mattice, V.A. Jacobs, Ed. Ann
Arbor Science Publishers, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. p. 1481-1491.
Galloway, S.M., A.D. Bloom, M. Resnick, et al. 1985. Development of a
standard protocol for in vitro cytogenetic testing with Chinese hamster ovary
cells: Comparison of results for 22 compounds in two laboratories. Environ.
Mutagen. 7: 1-51.
Isacson, P., J.A. Bean and C. Lynch. 1983. Relationship of cancer incidence
rates in Iowa municipalities to chlorination status of drinking water. In:
Water Chlorination: Environmental Impact and Health Effects, Vol. 4.
Environment, Health, and Risk, Book 2, R.L. Jolley, W.A. Brungs, J.A. Cotruvo,
R.B. Cumming, J.S. Mattice, V.A. Jacobs, Ed. Ann Arbor Science Publishers,
Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. p. 1353-1364.
Kraybill, H.F. 1980. Evaluation of public health aspects of
carcinogenic/mutagenic biorefractories in drinking water. Prev. Med. 9:
212-218.
Kurokawa, Y. 1987. Personal communication from Y. Kurokawa, National
Institute of Hygienic Sciences, Tokyo, Japan, to R. Melnick, National
Toxicology Program, North Carolina. (Cited in NTP, 1987)
Morimoto, K. and A. Koizumi. 1983. Trihalomethanes induce sister-chromatid
exchanges in human lymphocytes in vitro and mouse bone marrow cells in vivo.
Environ. Res. 32: 72-79.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1987. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis
Studies of Bromodichloromethane in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. NTP Technical
Report No. 321. U.S. Dept. Health and Human Services, PHS, NIS, Besthesda,
MD.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). 1988. Technical Report on the Toxicology
and Carcinogenesis Studies of Tribromomethane (Bromoform) (CAS No. 75-25-2) in
F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice (gavage studies). NTP TR 350.
Pereira, M.A. 1983. Carcinogenicity of chlorination by-products:
Trihalomethanes. In: Water Chlorination: Environmental Impact and Health
Effects, Vol. 4. Environment, Health, and Risk, Book 2, R.L. Jolley, W.A.
Brungs, J.A. Cotruvo, R.B. Cumming, J.S. Mattice, V.A. Jacobs, Ed. Ann Arbor
Science Publishers, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. p. 1165-1176.
Pereira, M.A., S.L. Herren, A.L. Britt and M.M. Khoury. 1982a.
Initiation/promotion bioassay in rat liver: Use of gamma
glutamyltranspeptidase-positive foci to indicate carcinogenic activity.
Toxicol. Pathol. 10(2): 11-18.
Pereira, M.A., L-H.C. Lin, J.M. Lippitt and S.L. Herren. 1982b.
Trihalomethanes as initiators and promoters of carcinogenesis. Environ.
Health Perspect. 46: 151-156.
Simmon, V.F. 1977. Structural correlations of carcinogenic and mutagenic
alkyl halides. In: Structural Correlates of Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis.
Proc. Second FDA Office of Sci. Summer Symp., I.M. Asher and C. Zerbos, Ed.
FDA Office of Science, USA. p. 163-171.
Simmon, V.F. 1981. Applications of the Salmonella/microsome assay. In:
Short-term Tests for Chemical Carcinogens, H.F. Stich and H.C. San, Ed.
Springer-Verlag, New York. p. 120-126.
Simmon, V.F. and R.G. Tardiff. 1978. The mutagenic activity of halogenated
compounds found in chlorinated drinking water. In: Water Chlorination:
Environ. Impact Health Eff. Proc. Conf. 2: 417-431.
Simmon, V.F., K. Kauhanen and R.G. Tardiff. 1977. Mutagenic activity of
chemicals identified in drinking water. In: Progress in Genetic Toxicology
Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Environmental Mutagens,
Edinburg, July 11-15, 1977. p. 249-258.
Tardiff, R.G., G.P. Carlson and V. Simmon. 1978. Halogenated organics in tap
water: A toxicological evaluation. In: Water Chlorination. Environmental
Impact and Health Effects, Vol. 1, R.L. Jolley, Ed. Proceedings of the
Conference on the Environmental Impact of Water Chlorination. Oak Ridge, TN,
USA, Oct. 22-24. p. 195-209.
Theiss, J.C., G.D. Stoner, M.B. Shimkin and E.K. Weisburger. 1977. Test for
carcinogenicity of organic contaminants of United States drinking waters by
pulmonary tumor response in strain A mice. Cancer Res. 37(8): 2717-2720.
U.S. EPA. 1988. Health and Environmental Effects Document for Bromoform.
Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental
Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response, Washington, DC.
_VII. REVISION HISTORY
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
-------- -------- --------------------------------------------------------
Date Section Description
-------- -------- --------------------------------------------------------
06/30/1988 I.A.7. Primary contact changed
09/01/1989 II. Carcinogen assessment now under review
12/01/1989 I.A. Principal study citation corrected
12/01/1989 I.A.3. Chu et al. (1982) citation clarified
12/01/1989 VI. Bibliography on-line
09/01/1990 I.A. Text edited
09/01/1990 II. Carcinogen assessment on-line
09/01/1990 IV.F.1. EPA contact changed
09/01/1990 VI.C. Carcinogen references added
11/01/1990 I.A. Principal study corrected to final NTP, 1989 report
11/01/1990 VI.A. NTP, 1989 study added to references
01/01/1991 II. Text edited
03/01/1991 I.A.7. Primary contact changed
08/01/1991 VI.A. Citations clarified
08/01/1991 VI.C. Citations clarified
01/01/1992 IV. Regulatory actions updated
03/01/1993 I.B. Inhalation RfC now under review
12/01/1993 I.B. Inhalation RfC message on-line
12/01/1993 VI.B. Inhalation RfC references on-line
VIII. SYNONYMS
Substance Name -- Bromoform
CASRN -- 75-25-2
Primary Synonym -- Tribromomethane
Last Revised -- 12/01/1993
75-25-2
Bromoform
Methane, tribromo-
Methenyl tribromide
Tribromomethane
Last updated: 5 May 1998
URL: http://www.epa.gov/iris/SUBST/0214.HTM
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