Toxicity of Terephthalic Acid

Abstract

The acute toxicity of terephthalic acid and its sodium salt, the effect of terephthalic acid administration on liver and renal functions, and the chemical composition of blood plasma were studied. LD50 of terephthalic acid in mice was found to be more than 5000 mg/kg by oral administration and 1430 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection. Those of its sodium salt (Na2TPA) were 6300mg/kg (oral), 8600mg/kg (subcutaneous), 4600mg/kg (intraperitoneal), and more than 1300 mg/kg (intravenous). Terephthalic acid feeding for 7 days (0.5% in diet) did not affect the dye (PSP) excretion from kidney, the transaminase activity (GOT and GPT) in blood plasma, and the contents of sugar, protein, free amino acids, and urea in blood plasma. The BSP retention in liver was not increased, but rather decreased. The barbiturate sleeping-time was shortened markedly by terephthalic acid feeding. In view of these facts, it was concluded that terephthaic acid did not show any toxic indications in mice fed 0.5% terephthalic acid diet. © 1968, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.