Nephrotoxicity of the Flame Retardant Tris(2,3-Dibromopropyl)Phosphate

Abstract

The flame retardant tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate (Tris-BP) is known to be activated to a potent mutagen in the Salmonella test system and to induce kidney tumors in long-term feeding studies in mice and rats. Administration of Tris-BP to rats leads to extensive tubular necrosis at doses of 250 mg/kg i.p. and higher. The histological lesion is present in most animals 24 h after administration. There is a close correlation between the increase in kidney weights, the degree of kidney damage and the increase in plasma urea levels. A continuous increase in kidney weights with respect to time is seen, 7 days after a dose of 250 mg/kg i.p. the kidney/body weight ratio is 192% of controls. The kidney damage is not altered by previous phenobarbital-treatment, whereas cobaltous chloride, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, slightly reduces the kidney damage.