No-observed-effect level of diborane on the respiratory organs of male mice in acute and subacute inhalation experiments.

In order to clarify the acute and subacute toxicity of diborane (B2H6, CAS: 19287-45-7) at low concentrations, male ICR mice were exposed to diborane for 1, 2, 4 or 8 h at concentrations of 1 or 5 ppm (phase I study), and for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk, over 2 or 4 wk at concentrations of 0.02 or 0.7 ppm (phase II study). Hematological and biochemical tests, and histopathological examinations of the cornea, nasal mucosa, respiratory tract and lung were carried out. All mice in both studies survived until they were sacrificed. In the phase I study, lung weight increased significantly in mice exposed to 5 ppm of diborane for 8 h. Histopathologically diffuse panbronchiolitis-like lesion was observed in mice exposed to 5 ppm of diborane for 2, 4 or 8 h. In the phase II study, slight infiltration of polymorphous neutrophil was observed mainly in the peribronchiolar region in mice exposed to 0.2 ppm or 0.7 ppm of diborane for 2 or 4 wk. In both studies, hematological and biochemical examinations failed to reveal any exposure-related changes. These results suggest that no-observed-effect level of diborane inhalation on the respiratory organs were 1 ppm in acute exposure, but 0.2 ppm of diborane inhalation for 2 or 4 wk seems to be unsafe.