Acute Inhalation Toxicity of Neutralized GB in Rats by the Munitions Management Device, Version 1 (MMD-1) Wastestream Process

摘要

The chemical agent GB (Sarin) was neutralized by the MMD-1 process to produce a markedly less toxic wastestream (product solution), which could then be handled in a manner similar to industrial wastes. An acute inhalation toxicity was conducted on the neutralized waste to assess the inhalation hazard per Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 1 hr to vaporized components of the product solution resultant from the monoethanolamine-mediated neutralization of GB. The primary organic vapors found consisted of monoethanolamine (MEA), diisopropylmethylphosphonate, dibutylamine, and tributylamine. No overt signs of toxicity, attributed to either agent or organophosphorus esters, were manifested in the animals. The rats did exhibit slight eye irritation during exposure, which was probably due to the amine components in the inhalation atmosphere. No deaths occurred either during exposure or within the 14-day post-exposure period. Rats exposed to vehicle control (45% MEA/55% H2O) did not exhibit toxic signs during exposure. The product solution from the MEA-mediated neutralization of GB does not appear to pose an acute inhalation hazard.