Laboratory procedures for detoxification of equipment and waste contaminated with brevetoxins PbTx-2 and PbTx-3.
Procedures are presented for the detoxification of laboratory equipment contaminated with brevetoxins PbTx-2 and PbTx-3. An in vivo bioassay using the Japanese madaka Oryzias latipes monitored toxin activity. Incubation for 10 min with 0.1N NaOH detoxified a lethal dose of either PbTx-2 or PbTx-3 to levels below the detection limit of the assay (less than 10 ng/mL). Decreasing the NaOH concentration required correspondingly longer incubation times. The potency of both toxins was also destroyed by incubation for 10-15 min at 500 degrees C. Steam autoclaving 30 min at 122 degrees C (18 psi) was not sufficient to detoxify brevetoxins. These results show that laboratory equipment will be decontaminated and rendered safe for normal handling by washing or soaking it in a dilute NaOH solution. Disposable waste can be either soaked in an NaOH solution prior to disposal or burned in an incinerator with a combustion chamber of at least 500 degrees C. Steam autoclaving, however, is not a viable method of decontamination.
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U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Pathophysiology Division, Frederick, MD 21701-5011.
D000818:Animals; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009990:Oryzias / Q000502:physiology*; D035964:Oxocins; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
D008387:Marine Toxins; D035964:Oxocins; C051732:Ptychodiscus brevis T2 toxin; C041017:brevetoxin T17; D000095702:Polyether Toxins