US EPA

2192237 

Journal Article 

Metabolism of 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl-14C and 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorobiphenyl-14C in the rat 

Goto, M; Sugiura, K; Hattori, M; Migawa, T; Okamura, M 

1974 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

3 

5 

233-238 

10.1016/0045-6535(74)90011-3 

The higher chlorinated biphenyl compounds, labeled 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl (1336363) and 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorobiphenyl were administered orally to the rat to determine their metabolic behavior. Unchanged polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were excreted in the feces mostly in the first 5 days. The higher the compounds were chlorinated, the more the unchanged compounds were found in the feces. After 10 days, polychlorobiphenyls were found only in slight amounts in the body. The metabolites found in the urine were exclusively those of conjugates. Most of the radioactivity was found in the feces. The structures of metabolites of the two PCBs were determined by comparing the mass spectra with those of reference compounds; they were found to be derivatives hydroxylated at the 4'-position. It is posited that the metabolic patterns are very similar to those of unsubstituted biphenyl in the rabbit.