Median lethal doses of benzene metabolites were determined in mice by subcutaneous administration : benzene 26.5 g/kg, phenol 0.34 g/kg, pyrocatechol 0.25 g/kg, hydro-quinone 0.19 g/kg, hydroxyhydroquinone 0.12 g/kg, and potassium phenylsulfate 1.89 g/kg. Benzene was found to become more hazardous with the development of hydroxy-lation, and to lose the hazardous character by sulfate conjugation.
