Toxicological Sciences 2000-06-01

Biotransformation and kinetics of excretion of tert-amyl-methyl ether in humans and rats after inhalation exposure.

A Amberg, E Rosner, W Dekant

Index: Toxicol. Sci. 55(2) , 274-83, (2000)

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Abstract

tert-Amyl methyl ether (TAME) may be widely used as an additive to gasoline in the future. The presence of this ether in gasoline reduces the tail pipe emission of pollutants. Therefore, widespread human exposure to TAME may occur. To contribute to the characterization of potential adverse effects of TAME, its biotransformation was compared in humans and rats after inhalation exposure. Human volunteers (three males and three females) and rats (five males and five females) were exposed to 4 (3.8 +/- 0.2) and 40 (38.4 +/- 1.7) ppm TAME for 4 h in a dynamic exposure system. Urine samples were collected for 72 h in 6-h intervals and blood samples were taken at regular intervals for 48 h in humans. In urine, the TAME metabolites tert-amyl alcohol (t-amyl alcohol), 2-methyl-2, 3-butane diol, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid were quantified. TAME and t-amyl alcohol were determined in blood samples. After the end of the exposure period, blood concentrations of TAME were 4.4 +/- 1.7 microM in humans and 9.6 +/- 1.4 microM in rats after 40 ppm TAME, and 0.6 +/- 0.1 microM in humans and 1.4 +/- 0.8 microM in rats after 4 ppm. TAME was rapidly cleared from blood in both rats and humans. The blood concentrations of t-amyl alcohol were 9.2 +/- 1.8 microM in humans and 8.1 +/- 1.5 microM in rats after 40 ppm TAME, and 1.0 +/- 0.3 microM in humans and 1.8 +/- 0.2 microM in rats after 4 ppm TAME. t-Amyl alcohol was also rapidly cleared from blood. In urine of humans, 2-methyl-2,3-butane diol, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid were recovered as major excretory products in urine. In rats, 2-methyl-2,3-butane diol and its glucuronide were major TAME metabolites. t-Amyl alcohol and its glucuronide were minor TAME metabolites in both species. All metabolites of TAME excreted with urine in rats were rapidly eliminated, with elimination half-lives of less than 6 h. Metabolite excretion in humans was slower and elimination half-lives of the different metabolites were between 6 and 40 h in humans. The obtained data indicate differences in TAME biotransformation and excretion between rats and humans. In rats, TAME metabolites are rapidly excreted. In humans, metabolic pathways are different and metabolite excretion is slower. Recovery of TAME metabolites in urine was higher in humans as compared to rats, suggesting more intensive biotransformation of TAME in humans.