Toxicological Evaluation of VX/Sodium Hydroxide (VX/NaOH) By-Products, Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO) Effluent Samples, and VX NaOH Neutralized Samples by the Intravenous Route in Mice

摘要

The research described in this study is part of the continued support to the Alternative Technology Program's search for the optimum procedure to demilitarize the chemical agent, VX, in lieu of incineration. This report is a summary of data from 11 samples of demiled VX tested in mice by the intravenous route to determine their toxicity. Toxicity (24-hr LD50s) ranged from 32.3-10, 306 mg/kg. The historical value for VX in mice by the intravenous route is 0.014 mg/kg. Based on the observed toxic signs in mice, nine samples no longer produced typical toxic signs as related to nerve agent poisoning. Two samples (M12-04-09-VW-0777 and M12-04-10-VW-0777) still produced tremors and salivation in mice following their injection. It is assumed their toxic effects were related to residual EA 2192. Toxicity of the demiled VX was reduced from four to six orders of magnitude. Toxicity from nine of the test substances was related to the by-product salts and other VX/NaOH/water breakdown products.