title: Evaluation of neutralized chemical agent identification sets (CAIS) for skin injury with an overview of the vesicant potential of agent degradation products.
abstract: Vesication and skin irritation studies were conducted in hairless guinea-pigs to determine the vesicant and skin irritation potential of chemically-neutralized Chemical Agent Identification Sets (CAIS). The CAIS are training items that contain chemical warfare-related material--sulfur mustard (HD), nitrogen mustard (HN) or lewisite (L)--and were declared obsolete in 1971. Animals were dosed topically with 'test article'--neat HD, 10% agent/chloroform solutions or product solutions (waste-streams) from neutralized CAIS--and evaluated for skin-damaging effects (gross and microscopic). Product solutions from the chemical neutralization of neat sulfur mustard resulted in microvesicle formation. All agent-dosed (HD or agent/chloroform solutions) sites manifested microblisters as well as other histopathological lesions of the skin. Waste-streams from the neutralization of agent (agent/chloroform or agent/charcoal) were devoid of vesicant activity. Cutaneous effects (erythema and edema) were consistent with the skin-injurious activity associated with the neutralizing reagent 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DCDMH). Chemical neutralization of CAIS was effective in eliminating/reducing the vesicant property of CAIS containing agent in chloroform or agent on charcoal but was inefficient in reducing the vesicant potential of CAIS containing neat sulfur mustard.
authors.affiliation: Edgewood Research Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Olajos
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menton
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: MacIver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D001152:Arsenicals; D001768:Blister / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006827:Hydantoins / Q000633:toxicity*; D007509:Irritants / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000633:toxicity; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D006827:Hydantoins; D007509:Irritants; C035965:lewisite; D008466:Mechlorethamine; C034538:1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin; D009151:Mustard Gas