The inhalation toxicity of di- and triethanolamine upon repeated exposure.

Systemic and respiratory tract (RT) toxicity of triethanolamine (TEA) was assessed in a 28-day nose-only inhalation study in Wistar rats (10animals/sex, concentrations: 0, 20, 100, 500mg/m3; 5 days/week, 6h/day). In two nose-only 90-day inhalation studies, with similar exposure design, Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 15, 150, 400mg/m3 diethanolamine (DEA) (DEA Study 1:13animals/sex, general subchronic study) and to 0, 1.5, 3, 8mg/m3 (DEA Study 2:10animals/sex) to specifically investigate respiratory tract toxicity. Only DEA induced systemic toxicity at or above 150mg/m3 (body and organ weight changes, clinical- and histo-pathological changes indicative for mild blood, liver, kidney and testicular effects). Neurotoxicity was not observed for both substances. Exposure to both substances resulted in laryngeal epithelial changes starting from 3mg/m3 for DEA (reversible metaplasia at the base of the epiglottis, inflammation at higher concentrations extending into the trachea) or from 20mg/m3 for TEA (focal inflammation, starting in single male animals). TEA appears to be less potent with respect to systemic toxicity and RT irritancy than DEA. The 90-day no adverse effect concentration" (NOAEC) for changes due to TEA exposure in the respiratory tract was 4.7mg/m3 derived by extrapolation from the NOAEC of the 28day study.