Comparative mammalian metabolism of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride in relation to oncogenic potential.

Elucidation of the role of vinyl chloride metabolites in the various reaction sequences which comprise the metabolic pathway, including the interaction of reactive metabolities with some purine and pyrimidine residues of target-organ DNA, provides some explanation for the (oncogenic) properties associated with the original substance. Comparative investigation of the biological fate of vinylidene chloride reveals an agent of low oncogenic potential which is likely to be damaging only under special circumstances, and species differences which suggest that the mouse is more susceptible than the rat towards vinylidene chloride oncogenicity.