• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is currently being a matter of concern because of its toxicity. 3-MCPD produced during the acid hydrolysis of soybean products has been reported to be mutagenic, neurotoxic, nephrotoxic and spermatotoxic. Howerer, the carcinogenicity of 3-MCPD is a controversial issue over the past several decades. 3-MCPD characteristically showed a variety of toxicities in reproductive system such as, decrease in sperm number and sperm motility, infertility, loss of sperm function, and weight decrease in ovary. Due to the toxicity of 3-MCPD, exposure to 3-MCPD has been proposed to be reduced to as low a level as technologically feasible. 3-MCPD can be detected in soy sauce or non-soy sauce products. The legal limit for 3-MCPD this year has been suggested to be 20 ppb（$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg）in the European Community. In Korea, the permissible level of 3-MCPD is expected to be 0.3 ppm. In this study, 3-MCPD was toxicologically evaluated in terms of risk assessment in humans.