A Note on Glycerol Formal as a Solvent in Toxicity Testing

Abstract

Twenty-nine organic solvents and emulsifying agents, selected for possible use as injection solvents in toxicity testing, have been submitted to a “range-finding” toxicity screening test on rats. As a result, glycerol formal was examined in greater detail. Glycerol formal is a good inert solvent for a wide range of organic chemicals. It produced no toxic effects or macroscopic pathology when 1500 mg./kg. was administered intraperitoneally to rats, or 1000 mg./kg. to mice or guinea pigs, or 4000 mg./kg. orally to rats, and at high doses the only specific effect found was narcosis. It was correspondingly innocuous subcutaneously or dermally, and was almost non-irritant to the eye surface. There was no detectable effect on the toxicity of parathion. Glycerol formal appears to be a useful addition to the range of solvents suitable for use in toxicity tests.