Histopathologic Findings of Bone Marrow Induced by 2‐Bromopropane in Male Rats

Received Jan 9, 1997; Accepted Feb 3, 1997 Correspondence to: T. Nakajima, Department of Hygiene, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390, Japan 2-Bromopropane may have potential genital and hematopoietic toxicity in humans. This solvent is used as an alternative of chlorofluorocarbons. From the recent report in Korea'), of 33 workers (8 men and 25 women) who were working in the production of electronic machine components (Tact Switch), using 2-bromopropane, 16 people (64%) had amenorrhea, two had azoospermia and four had oligozoospermia or reduced sperm motility; eight women and one men also had pancytopenia. These disorders were not seen among workers who were not exposed to the 2bromopropane in the same factory. In addition, the onset of amenorrhea was 4-16 months after replacement of 1.1.2trichloro-1.2.2-trifluoroethane with 2-bromopropane. Ichihara et al. 1,3) confirmed the testicular toxicity of 2bromopropane in animals by inhalation exposure ranging between 0-3,000 ppm: the chemical-induced damage occurred at 300 ppm or higher in male Wistar rats. Disruption of ovarian cyclicity induced by this solvent was also confirmed in female Wistar rats4'. These results clearly demonstrate the genital toxicity of 2-bromopropane. However, hematotoxicity of 2-bromopropane has not been thoroughly investigated: only effects on peripheral blood cells were documented','). This study was done in an attempt to clarify the effect of 2-bromopropane on bone marrow in male Wistar rats, and the results were compared with those in genital tissues.