Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of dermally applied monoethanolamine in rats and rabbits.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits were exposed dermally to 0, 10, 25, and 75 mg/kg/day of monoethanolamine (MEA) for approximately 6 hr/day on Days 6 through 15 (rats) or 6 through 18 (rabbits) of gestation. A fifth dose group of 225 mg MEA/kg/day was evaluated in rats only. Dermal exposure of pregnant rats to 225 mg/kg/day and rabbits to 75 mg/kg/day resulted in significant increases in the incidence of skin irritation/lesions and maternal body weight effects. In general, the dermal irritation observed at the high dose was progressive, beginning with erythema and leading to necrosis, scabs, and scar formation. Doses of 25 mg/kg/day to rabbits produced only minor irritation. Despite maternal effects observed in rats and rabbits, no evidence of developmental or fetal toxicity was observed at any dose level tested. Thus, it was concluded that MEA was not developmentally toxic following dermal application at exposure levels up to and including 225 mg/kg/day for rats and 75 mg/kg/day for rabbits.