Final report on the safety assessment of Captan

Abstract

Captan is used in cosmetic products as a bacteriostat. Captan is not appreciably absorbed through the skin of mice. When administered orally to rats and absorbed, it is eliminated in the urine and feces. The compound is considered to be practically nontoxic to rats when orally administered. It is considered to be both a human irritant and sensitizer. Although teratogenic and reproductive studies indicated that Captan produced adverse effects in rats, mice, rabbits, and dogs, the ingredient was not teratogenic. Captan in the diet increased the incidence of intestinal neoplasms in mice. Because Captan is mutagenic in vitro, produces intestinal neoplasms in mice following oral administration, and upon degradation becomes an electrophile, it is concluded that an 18-month skin carcinogenicity bioassay in mice must be conducted before a conclusion on the safety of Captan can be reached.