Carcinogenicity of chloroform

Abstract

Chloroform is carcinogenic in rats, mice, and probably in dogs. Chloroform induced carcinomas of the liver and kidney and malignant tumors in other organs in rats and mice. Liver neoplasms have been described in three strains of mice. Carcinomas of the kidney were found in a first study in mice and in the repeat of that study. Dogs given chloroform developed neoplasms of the liver as well as in other organs. Rats given chloroform also developed toxic changes, particularly male rats, as a result of treatment. These lesions included interstitial fibrosis of the kidney; polyarteritis of the mesenteric, pancreatic, and other arterioles and arteries; and atrophy of the testes. These toxic changes may have interfered with the development of neoplasms in male rats.