Evaluation of CC2 as a decontaminant in various hydrophilic and lipophilic formulations against sulphur mustard.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate CC2 (N, N'-dichloro-bis [2, 4, 6-trichlorophenyl] urea) in various hydrophilic and lipophilic formulations as a personnel decontaminant for sulphur mustard (SM).


METHODS
Twenty percent of CC2 was prepared as a suspension or ointment with various chemical agents and its stability was evaluated by active chlorine assay. The efficacy was evaluated in mice by recording the mortality after applying 29 LD50 of SM (LD50 = 8.1 mg/kg dermally) and decontaminating it after 2 min with 200 mg of the formulation. Studies were also carried out with 10% and 20% CC2 in acacia and hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the suspensions were stored in polyethylene containers. The stability of the suspensions was evaluated by active chlorine assay. The efficacy was evaluated by recording the mortality after applying 29 LD50 of SM in mice and 12 LD50 of SM in rats (LD50 = 2.4 mg/kg dermally), and decontaminating it with the formulations. LD50 by different routes and primary skin irritation test of CC2 were also carried out.


RESULTS
CC2 reacted with peanut oil and neem oil, and was unstable in povidone iodine and Fuller's earth. Good stability was achieved with petroleum jelly, honey, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, calamine lotion, acacia and hydroxypropyl cellulose. Though CC2 was stable in lipophilic formulations, it did not protect the animals. The hydrophilic formulations particularly acacia and hydroxypropyl cellulose gave very good protection and was stable in the polyethylene containers for a period of 1 year. The efficacy of 20% CC2 was better than 10% CC2. The oral and dermal LD50 of CC2 was found to be above 5.0 g/kg. CC2 was also found to be nonirritant.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty percent of CC2 in hydroxypropyl cellulose is better with respect to stability, efficacy and ease of decontamination. CC2 is also a safe chemical.
Vijayaraghavan
R
R
Divisions of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior-474 002, India. pharm_tox@yahoo.co.in
Kumar
Pravin
P
Dubey
D K
DK
Singh
Ram
R
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012995:Solubility
D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C466760:N,N'-dichlorobis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D002482:Cellulose; C008079:hydroxypropylcellulose; D009151:Mustard Gas