ABSTRACT

Data on the acute toxicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of various MWs in mice, guinea pigs and rats have been tabulated in reports to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Subacute toxicity studies have been conducted in rats, cats and dogs using PVP ranging in MW from 10,000 to 1,500,000. The PVP was administered at doses of 5–10 g/kg by gavage or 2.5–10% by weight in the diet over periods from 1.5 to 13 weeks. A number of studies have been carried out to look at the chronic toxicity of various grades of PVP. Many of these have been part of an investigation of the possible carcinogenicity of this material. PVP K-30 was tested in the L5178Y mouse lymphoma assay in a range of concentration from 1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml with and without activation. No cell toxicity or mutagenicity was observed. EMS, MNNG and DMN were used as positive controls and showed expected activity.