The developmental toxicity of bromochloroacetonitrile in pregnant long‐evans rats

Bromochloroacetonitrile (BCAN) is a by‐product of the chlorine disinfection of water containing natural organic material. Adverse effects of BCAN in an in vivo teratology screen (i.e. neonatal survival assay) gave reason for further investigation into the developmental toxicity of this compound. BCAN was administered orally to pregnant Long‐Evans rats on gestation days 6–18 (vaginal plug = day 0). Four groups of approximately 20 females received BCAN at 5, 25, 45 or 65 mg/kg/day in a tricaprylin vehicle. Endpoints assessed at necropsy (day 20) included maternal organ weights, number of corpora lutea and uterine contents (number of implants and fetuses); live fetuses were weighed, measured and subsequently examined for external, skeletal and soft tissue malformations. Gestational maternal weight gain was reduced at 45 and 65 mg kg‐1. Maternal toxicity, manifested as increased organ weights and deaths, occurred at 65 mg kg‐1. Postimplantation loss was elevated at 45 mg kg‐1 while total litter loss was obser...