Acute oral toxicity and liver oxidant/antioxidant stress of halogenated benzene, phenol, and diphenyl ether in mice: a comparative and mechanism exploration

The lethal doses (LD(50)s) of fluorinated, chlorinated, brominated, and iodinated benzene, phenol, and diphenyl ether in mice were ascertained respectively under the consistent condition. The acute toxicity of four benzenes orders in fluorobenzene (FB) < iodobenzene < chlorobenzenea parts per thousand bromobenzene, that of four phenols orders in 4-iodophenola parts per thousand 4-bromophenol < 4-chlorophenol (4-MCP) < 4-fluorophenol (4-MFP), and that of four diphenyl ethers orders in 4,4'-iododiphenyl ether < 4,4'-difluorodiphenyl ether < 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ethera parts per thousand 4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether. General behavior adverse effects were observed, and poisoned mouse were dissected to observe visceral lesions. FB, 4-MCP, and 4-MFP produced toxic faster than other halogenated benzenes and phenols, as they had lower octanol-water partition coefficients. Pathological changes in liver and liver/kidney weight changes were also observed. Hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and malondialdehyde level were tested after a 28-day exposure, which reflects a toxicity order basically consistent with that reflected by the LD(50)s. By theoretical calculation and building models, the toxicity of benzene, phenol, and diphenyl ether were influenced by different structural properties.