Toxicity Profile for ortho-Phthalic acid and its sodium and potassium salts (1989)

Abstract

ortho-Phthalic acid was reported to be a moderate irritant to the skin and mucous membranes of humans. It has been listed as a contact allergen in humans but no empirical support for this classification was found. The salts of ortho-phthalic acid were of low acute oral toxicity in rats, but single intraperitoneal injections of the acid or its sodium salt to mice affected the central nervous system, liver, and oxygen supply to the tissues. In limited studies, repeated feeding of the acid caused effects on the blood in rats and rabbits. There were no adverse effects on foetal development in mice given a single injection of ortho-phthalic acid during pregnancy. Rabbit sperm motility was inhibited by the potassium salt. Phthalic anhydride, the anhydrous form of the acid, gave no evidence of carcinogenicity in long-term feeding studies in rats and mice. ortho-Phthalic acid did not cause mutations or DNA damage in bacterial tests (including Ames), but a mutagenic effect was seen in fruit flies. The sodium salt did not cause chromosome damage in mammalian cells in culture.