Toxicity of o-cresol to mink and european ferrets

The toxicity of o-cresol to mink (Mustela vison) and European ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated through dietary LC50 and reproduction tests. Twenty-eight-day LC50 tests with each species resulted in no overt signs of toxicity or mortalities, with the highest dietary concentrations being 2,520 ppm for mink and 4,536 ppm for ferrets. Mink were more sensitive to o-cresol than were ferrets, based on feed consumption, body weight data and hematologic parameters. Both species routinely consumed in excess of the estimated oral LD50 in an average day's feed consumption at the highest dietary concentration. Mink in a reproduction test exhibited no significant adverse effects at dietary concentrations as high as 1,600 ppm over 6 months.