Toxicity studies of o-phthalaldehyde (CASRN 643-79-8) administered by inhalation to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats and B6C3F1/N mice.

o-Phthalaldehyde is a high-level chemical disinfectant that is commonly used for disinfection of dental and medical instruments as an alternative to glutaraldehyde, which is a known skin and respiratory sensitizer. o-Phthalaldehyde was nominated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for toxicologic characterization based on its proposed use as a safer alternative to glutaraldehyde for chemical disinfection, its increasing use, the lack of adequate and publicly available toxicologic data, and because many human case reports document incidences of skin and respiratory sensitization following occupational exposure. Inhalation was chosen as the route of exposure for these studies because inhalation is a major route of human occupational exposure. Male and female Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats and B6C3F1/N mice were exposed to o-phthalaldehyde (99.7% pure) by whole-body inhalation for 3 months. (Abstract Abridged).