title: Low-level exposure of guinea pigs and marmosets to sarin vapour in air: lowest-observable-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) for miosis.
abstract: The purpose of this pilot study was to indicate, for low-level exposure of conscious guinea pigs and marmoset monkeys to sarin vapour in air, the lowest-observable-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) of sarin for miosis. This is the concentration x time (C.t) value (t = 5 h) of exposure at which miosis becomes significant. The ratio of pupil and iris diameters, measured on digital photographs taken on-line during exposure, was calculated as a measure for miosis. The exposure concentrations were in the range 7-150 microg x m(-3) and the exposure times needed to achieve significant miosis were in the range 10-300 min. Both vehicle- and pyridostigmine-pretreated animals were used in the experiments. The latter pretreatment resulted in ca. 30% inhibition of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase in both species. In vehicle-pretreated guinea pigs and marmosets the pupil size was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at sarin doses of 1.8 +/- 0.3 and 2.5 +/- 0.8 mg x min x m(-3), respectively. In pyridostigmine-pretreated guinea pigs and marmosets the pupil size was affected significantly (P < 0.05) at 1.8 +/- 0.5 and 3.0 +/- 0.8 mg x min x m(-3), respectively. Evidently there is no significant influence of pyridostigmine pretreatment on the LOAEL. These data were addressed in light of the recommended occupational and detection limits for sarin vapour in air. It was concluded that miosis will occur during low-level sarin exposure at levels that are not detectable by the currently fielded alarm systems, assuming that humans are as sensitive for sarin vapour in air as guinea pigs and marmosets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Countermeasures, TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory, PO Box 45, 2280 AA Rijswijk, The Netherlands. helden@pml.tno.nl
authors.forename: Herman P M
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Helden
authors.forename: Henk C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Trap
authors.forename: Willem C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Oostdijk
authors.forename: Hendrik P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Benschop
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Langenberg
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007498:Iris / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015877:Miosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012524:Sarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D012524:Sarin; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide