This specific project will investigate the potential immunotoxicity of repeated exposure to ClPFPECAs and PFPEDCAs in mice and will follow USEPA Guidelines set forth in USEPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) Test Guidelines Immunotoxicity 870.7800 (1998). The study objectives are as follows: • Investigate the immune system effects of repeated dose exposure to ClPFPECAs and PFPE-DCAs in mice as measured by Plaque Forming Cell (PFC) assay and/or Natural Killer (NK) cell assay to fill critical knowledge gaps in scientific literature. • Investigate the dose-response relationship using sequentially increasing dose levels in order to determine effect levels amenable to Benchmark Dose modeling which can inform human health risk assessors when determining human health Reference Dose levels. Study design should be similar to that used in Dong et al. (2009). Briefly, male and female mice (at least eight mice/sex/dose) will be orally administered either ClPFPECAs or PFPE-DCAs at varying doses, including a negative and positive control (e.g., immunosuppressive chemical cyclophosphamide) group, for at least 28 days. Immunization with Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBCs), in order to elicit an immune system response, will occur four days prior to sacrifice. ClPFPECA and PFPE-DCA compounds will be provided by NJDEP to the contracted laboratory...
