Biocides are widely used for their effective antiseptic and disinfectant properties, including polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-P), which is also used as a biocide as it selectively disrupts bacterial cell membrane. It is used to clean humidifiers commonly used in the dry winter season in South Korea, which exposes people to PHMG-P inhalation. However, comprehensive toxicological data on PHMG-P inhalation exposure, including in pregnant women, and the potential occurrence of lung disease is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we investigated PHMG-P inhalation exposure-induced toxicities in pregnant rats and prenatal development of their conceptus. Pregnant rats were exposed to PHMG-P via inhalation at target concentrations of 0, 0.14, 1.60, and 3.20 mg/m³ from implantation to nearly parturition (from gestation day 6–20) and then analyzed for relevant abnormalities. Results showed systemic toxicities in the pregnant rats including respiratory function abnormalities, decreased body weight gain, and decreased food consumption at ≥1.60 mg/m³. Prenatal development toxicities, including decreased fetal weight with ossification retardations of fetal bones, were observed at 3.20 mg/m³. These results will contribute to clarifying the PHMG-P inhalation exposure-induced toxicities during pregnancy and support its risk assessment in humans.

杀菌剂因其有效的杀菌和消毒性能而被广泛使用，其中包括聚六亚甲基磷酸胍（PHMG-P），由于它能选择性破坏细菌细胞膜，因此也被用作杀菌剂。它用于清洁韩国干燥冬季常用的加湿器，使人们暴露于PHMG-P吸入。但是，缺乏包括孕妇在内的PHMG-P吸入暴露的全面毒理学数据，以及潜在的肺部疾病发生率。因此，在这项研究中，我们调查了PHMG-P吸入暴露对怀孕大鼠的毒性及其概念的产前发育。妊娠大鼠通过吸入以0、0.14、1.60和3.20 mg / m ^3的目标浓度暴露于PHMG-P从植入到接近分娩（从妊娠6-20天），然后进行相关异常分析。结果显示，在≥1.60mg / m ^3时，妊娠大鼠的全身毒性包括呼吸功能异常，体重增加减少和食物消耗减少。在3.20 mg / m ^3时观察到产前发育毒性，包括胎儿体重下降和胎儿骨骼骨化延迟。这些结果将有助于阐明怀孕期间PHMG-P吸入暴露引起的毒性，并支持其在人体中的风险评估。