Long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of the bread improver potassium bromate 1. Studies in rats

• Published in: Food and cosmetics toxicology Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 33 - 39
• Main Authors: Fisher, N., Hutchinson, J.B., Berry, R., Hardy, J., Ginocchio, A.V., Waite, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.01.1979
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Body Weight - drug effects; Bread - toxicity; Bromates - metabolism; Bromates - toxicity; Bromine - metabolism; Bromine - toxicity; Carcinogens; Eating - drug effects; Female; Food Additives - metabolism; Food Additives - toxicity; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Potassium - metabolism; Potassium - toxicity; Rats; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0015-6264
• DOI: 10.1016/0015-6264(79)90156-1

Wistar rats were fed for 104 wk on five bread-based diets in which the bread was prepared from untreated flour or from flour treated with 50 or 75 ppm potassium bromate or with one of two mixtures of potassium bromate with other commonly-used additives. Appearance, behaviour and health were similar in test and control groups. The death rate was lower in the test groups than in the controls in the females, and the males of the high-dose group experienced significantly fewer deaths than the other groups taken together. No evidence of carcinogenicity and no definite evidence of chronic toxicity was attributable to the compounds under test. There was no evidence of retention or accumulation of covalent bromine in the adipose tissues of the rats.