sodium-hypochlorite and Body-Weight

Fifty female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) at 40 days were divided into five equal groups. Sodium hypochlorite was added in drinking water to provide 0, 25, 50, 200, 400 mg chlorine/L for 6 weeks. At week 7, the chlorine concentration of 25 and 50 mg groups was increased to 100 mg and further increased to 400, 1600 and 6400 mg at weeks 8, 9 and 10, respectively. At the end the experiment (week 10), all the birds were sacrificed. No clinical signs were observed in quail given 50 mg chlorine/L. Quail given 200-400 mg/L chlorine exhibited decreased feed intake, body weight and egg production. In addition, those given 1600-6400 mg/L chlorine also exhibited depression. Decreased hematocrit, erythrocyte, hemoglobin, leukocytes, plasma proteins and globulin were observed at 200 mg/L chlorine and higher concentration. Gross lesions were not observed in quail offered 200-400 mg/L chlorine for 6 weeks; however, those offered 1600-6400 mg/L chlorine exhibited atrophied pectoral muscles, prominently protruding keel bones, decreased weight of ovary and oviduct and a reduction in an area of the different segments of oviduct. The histopathological picture in mucosa of oviduct consisted of degenerated glandular cells. In some cases, glandular tissue was replaced by cord of cells and fibroblast. The present study suggested that sodium hypochlorite in drinking water yielding 50 mg/L chlorine was not toxic for 6 weeks. However, sodium hypochlorite providing 200 mg/L chlorine or higher concentrations in drinking water was toxic to the quail.

Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Body Weight; Bone and Bones; Coturnix; Depression; Disinfectants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Kidney; Liver; Muscular Atrophy; Organ Size; Ovary; Oviducts; Oviposition; Pectoralis Muscles; Random Allocation; Sodium Hypochlorite; Water Microbiology; Water Purification; Water Supply

Fifty male Japanese quails of 40 days of age were divided into five equal groups viz. A, B, C, D, and E. Drinking water supplemented with sodium hypochlorite at dose level of 0, 25, 50, 200, and 400 mg chlorine/L, respectively was offered for 6 weeks. At the end of week 6 when no clinical signs of toxicity of sodium hypochlorite appeared, the birds in groups B and C were shifted to 100 mg chlorine/L drinking water, and this level was increased fourfold (400, 1600, 6400 mg chlorine/L drinking water) every week, till i.e., 10th week (70 day). Afterwards all the birds were killed. Depression and anorexia were prominent clinical signs observed. Reduction in feed intake, body weight, and hematological parameters appeared in a dose-dependant manner. Decreased serum total proteins and weights of liver, heart, and kidneys were recorded in birds receiving high levels of sodium hypochlorite. Intoxicated birds were emaciated. Decreased weight and volume of the testes were observed in birds receiving high levels of sodium hypochlorite. However, birds receiving 400 mg chlorine (group E) had smaller but functional testes. Birds receiving higher level of chlorine (groups B and C) had decreased weight and volume of testes, atrophied seminiferous tubules, and arrested spermatogenesis. It was concluded that sodium hypochlorite at high levels, that is, 6400 mg/L in drinking water is toxic to the quails; therefore, it should be used with caution in poultry farming as drinking water disinfectant.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anorexia; Body Weight; Coturnix; Disinfectants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking; Eating; Heart; Kidney; Liver; Male; Myocardium; Organ Size; Seminiferous Tubules; Sodium Hypochlorite; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Toxicity Tests; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Supply

Recent epidemiological studies have reported associations between the consumption of chlorinated drinking water and various types of human cancer; in addition, exposure to chlorine (Cl-) in drinking water has been reported to suppress certain immune functions in laboratory animals. The current studies were conducted to extend our knowledge of the effects of drinking water exposure to Cl-. Female C57BL/6 mice were administered hyperchlorinated drinking water (7.5, 15, or 30 ppm Cl-) for 2 weeks prior to sacrifice for evaluation of spleen and thymus weights, the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response, hemagglutination (HA) titer, and lymphocyte proliferation (LP). Significant reductions in organ weights and immune response were observed in the positive control groups (i.e. dexamethasone- or cyclophosphamide-exposed mice). No consistent differences were observed between the Cl--exposed animals and vehicle control mice for the evaluated parameters. Thus, under the conditions of these experiments, 2 weeks of exposure to hyperchlorinated drinking water had no apparent adverse effects on immune function.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Female; Fresh Water; Immunity, Cellular; Lymph Nodes; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Organ Size; Sodium Hypochlorite; Spleen; Thymus Gland; Water Purification

The effects of cytotoxic monochloramine on the development of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were investigated in Wistar rats. After oral administration of drinking water containing the carcinogen and regular chow pellets for 25 weeks, rats received regular chow pellets or chow pellets containing 20% ammonium acetate, and normal tap water or water containing 30 mM sodium hypochlorite, with or without s.c. injection of taurine, until the end of the experiment in week 52. Treatment with both ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite significantly increased the incidence of gastric cancers in week 52, while the concomitant use of taurine with ammonium acetate and sodium hypochlorite significantly attenuated the enhanced gastric carcinogenesis. Spectrophotometric examinations revealed that taurine scavenged monochloramine. These findings suggest that Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis may be mediated by monochloramine.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Chloramines; Cocarcinogenesis; Gastric Mucosa; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Male; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium Acetate; Sodium Hypochlorite; Stomach Neoplasms; Taurine

Four groups, each of 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats, of the colony used in the Cancer Research Center of Bentivoglio of the Ramazzini Foundation, 12 weeks old at the start of the study, received drinking water containing sodium hypochlorite, resulting in concentrations of active chlorine of 750, 500, and 100 mg/l (treated groups), and tap water (active chlorine < 0.2 mg/l) (control group), respectively, for 104 weeks. Among the female rats of the treated groups, an increased incidence of lymphomas and leukemias has been observed, although this is not clearly dose related. Moreover, sporadic cases of some tumors, the occurrence of which is extremely unusual among the untreated rats of the colony used (historical controls), were detected in chlorine-exposed animals. The results of this study confirm the results of the experiment of the United States National Toxicology Program (1991), which showed an increase of leukemia among female Fischer 344/N rats following the administration of chlorine (in the form of sodium hypochlorite and chloramine) in their drinking water. The data here presented call for further research aimed at quantifying the oncogenic risks related to the chlorination of drinking water, to be used as a basis for consequent public health measures.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Chlorine; Drinking; Feeding Behavior; Female; Male; Neoplasms, Experimental; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sodium Hypochlorite; Time Factors; Water Supply

The carcinogenic potential of sodium hypochlorite was examined in F344 rats. Groups of 50 males or 50 females were given sodium hypochlorite in their drinking-water, at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.05% for males and 0.2 and 0.1% for females, for 104 wk. Similar numbers of male and female rats received distilled water without supplement throughout the experiment. All surviving rats were killed at wk 112 (after 8 wk on untreated tap-water). Rats of both sexes given the chemical showed a reduction in body-weight gain, but haematological and biochemical examination of the blood showed no changes due to treatment, and no significant lesions attributable to the treatment were detected in any tissue in the histopathological investigation. Although a variety of tumours developed in all groups, no dose-related change in either the incidence or latent period of tumours was observed for any organ or tissue in either sex. Under the experimental conditions described, therefore, sodium hypochlorite was not carcinogenic in F344 rats.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Eating; Erythrocyte Count; Female; Male; Mutagenicity Tests; Neoplasms, Experimental; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sex Factors; Sodium Hypochlorite

Two separate experiments were carried out with 480 Shaver broiler chicks (240 of each sex) in each, to determine the effects on mortality and biological performance of administering sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) via the drinking water. The chicks were housed separately (by sex) in Petersime batteries and each experiment began when the chicks were 1 day old and ended when they were 28 days of age. Sodium hypochlorite was added to the drinking water to achieve the following treatment levels (ppm) of available chlorine: 0, 300, 600, and 1200 (experiment 1); 0, 37.5, 75.0, and 150 (experiment 2). Administration of 1,200 ppm available chlorine significantly increased mortality, lowered feed efficiency, reduced water consumption, and lowered heart, liver, kidney, and testes weights. Administration of 300 ppm or more resulted in significantly lower mean body weights. There was some indication of a growth stimulus and improved feed efficiency at the lower concentrations (37.5 to 150 ppm) of sodium hypochlorite administration, but none of the responses was statistically significant. Overall, a significant effect on biological performance or practical benefit was not achieved from administering sodium hypochlorite to broiler chicks.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Chickens; Female; Male; Organ Size; Poultry Diseases; Sex Factors; Sodium Hypochlorite

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Blood Chemical Analysis; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Female; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Rats; Sodium Hypochlorite

Four experiments were conducted with a total of 100 rats and 20 guinea pigs to determine the effects of adding sodium hypochlorite to the drinking water and milk. In three experiments, the liquids were provided ad libitum, but in one it was given by gavage so that the dosage could be expressed in relation to body weight. Available chlorine concentrations ranging between 0 and 2,000 mg/L were tested over periods of 9 days to 6 weeks. Stimulation of growth rate was observed in all experiments with body weight increases of 5.4% to 13.7%. Statistical significance at P less than 0.05 was reached in two experiments. Optimal growth rate was observed with available chlorine concentrations of 20 mg/L in liquids given free choice and at 8 mg/kg of body weight when given by gavage. Toxic effects of the sodium hypochlorite were not observed at any of the concentrations tested below 2,000 mg/L.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Body Weight; Female; Guinea Pigs; Kidney; Male; Rats; Sodium Hypochlorite

Topics: Animals; Benzopyrenes; Body Weight; Chlorine; Cocarcinogenesis; Female; Humans; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental; Polycyclic Compounds; Sodium Hypochlorite; Water Supply

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Coccidiosis; Eimeria; Hematocrit; Sodium Hypochlorite; Spores; Trypsin