Single and repeated oral dose toxicity tests of saline groundwater in ICR mice

Saline groundwater (SGW) is the underground saline water obtained from basalt layer through which seawater has infiltrated. SGW contains more than 10,000 mg/L dissolved salt solid, the value of which is less than that of seawater. As part of its safety test, single and repeated oral dose toxicity tests were conducted with male and female ICR mice for 14 days. In single oral dose test with dosage of 10, 30, and 50 mL/kg, no gross changes in appearance or mortality were observed. In repeated oral dose test with dosage of 8, 14, and 20 mL/kg, no significant changes in mortality or weights of body and organ were observed. Additional analysis of serum biochemical parameter and histopathology also indicated no meaningful change during the tests. When taken all together, these results show that no toxicity of SGW could be found with single and repeated toxicity tests. However, for final conclusion of safety, further toxicity studies need to be performed with animal and human subjects.