Maternal Inhalation of Humidifier Disinfectant Biocide Aerosol Particles, Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate, Induces Adverse Postnatal Development in Rat Offspring

Background: Inhalation exposure to polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-P), one of the primary biocides used in humidifier disinfectants, caused a fatal pulmonary disease in Korea. Pregnant women were also exposed to PHMG-P, and subsequent studies showed that PHMG-P inhalation adversely affects their health and prenatal development. However, the postnatal developmental effects on prenatally PHMG-P-exposed offspring have not yet been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we examined the postnatal developmental effects of offspring with prenatally PHMG-P exposure. PHMG-P aerosol particles were exposed to pregnant rats via inhalation during pregnancy at concentrations of 0, 0.14, 1.60, and 3.20 mg/m 3 , and general and reproductive functions of pregnant rats were also investigated. After parturition, comprehensive postnatal development of offspring was investigated, including general systemic health, reproduction, and development. Results: : At 3.20 mg/m 3 , increased perinatal death and decreased viability index (postnatal survival of offspring between birth and postnatal day 4) were observed. In addition, offspring had lower body weight at birth that persisted throughout the study. PHMG-P-exposed pregnant rats had severe systemic toxicities and increased gestation length. At 1.60 mg/m 3 , a decreased viability index was also observed with systemic toxicities of PHMG-P-exposed pregnant rats. Conclusion: As a result, maternal inhalation exposure of PHMG-P aerosol particles during pregnancy induced adverse postnatal development in rat offspring and they were observed with systemic toxicities of their maternal animals. The results of this study could be used for risk assessment of postnatal development of prenatally PHMG-P-exposed offspring as well as reproductive and developmental effects on females with PHMG-P inhalation exposure during pregnancy.