A review on toxicity of 2-bromopropane: Mainly on its reproductive toxicity

Abstract

2-Bromopropane has been used mostly as an intermediate for medicines, pesticides and other chemicals in closed systems. Recently it has come to be used as an alternative solvent in open systems instead of ozone layer depleting chlorofluorocarbons. An outbreak of reproductive and hematopoietic disorders occurred in workers exposed to solvents containing 2-bromopropane in a Korean factory in 1995. After that some animal experiments revealed that 2-bromopropane has a severe toxic effect on the female and male reproductive organs and hematopoietic organs. We reviewed the toxicity of 2-bromopropane based on the recent data obtained in epidemiological surveys and animal experiments. Toxicities of structurally related bromopropanes were compared with that of 2-bromopropane and its risk assessment was discussed. The conclusions are as follows: 1. 2-Bromopropane has a specific reproductive and hematopoietic toxicity in both sexes in humans and experimental animals. 2. It could impair the testes, especially spermatogonia in males. 3. It could impair the ovarian function, resulting in a disturbed estrous cycle and loss of oocytes in females. 4. It could impair the bone marrow, resulting in pancytopenia. 5. It has a weak potent mutagenicity in bacterial mutation assays. 6. A risk assessment suggests that around 0.3-10 ppm might be recommended as an occupational exposure limit for 2-bromopropane.