Alarie test

As mentioned previously, there are no test guideline methods for respiratory irritation. Good data, often clearly related to exposure levels, can be obtained on respiratory and mucous membrane irritation, from well-designed and well-reported inhalation studies in animals. Also the Alarie test (Alarie 1973, 1981), an experimental animal test assessing the concentration that results in a 50% reduction of the breathing frequency, may provide useful information on sensory irritation of the upper respiratory tract and the results may be used for hazard identification. 

Within the framework of risk assessment of existing substances in the EU, the Alarie test has been considered as being inappropriate to evaluate respiratory tract irritation (Bos et al. 2002). Alarie has discussed this at his Web site (Alarie 2007). 

Alarie, Y. 2007. Yves Alarie (Alarie test) website, www.yvesalarie.com... 

Bos, P.M.J., M. Busschers, and J.H.E. Arts. 2002. Evaluation of the sensory irritation test (Alarie Test) for the assessment of respiratory tract irritation. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 44 968-976. 

L.E. Kane, C.S. Barrow, and Y. Alarie, A short-term test to predict acceptable levels of exposure to airborne sensory irritants, American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 40, 207-229, 1979. 

Acute inhalation experiments with ammonia have demonstrated lethal and nonlethal toxic effects in a variety of laboratory animals. Table 2-7 lists LC50 (the concentration that is lethal to 50% of test animals) reported for ammonia in various species. Mice are particularly sensitive to ammonia and other irritant gasses (Alarie 1973 Alarie 1981 Kapeghian et al. 1982). 

Alarie, Y., and F. M. Esposito. 1988. Role of small scale toxicity testing in hazard control. Fire Mater. 13 122-29. 

Tolyl-specific IgE antibodies have now however also been demonstrated in exposed sensitive workers by Karol et al. (1978 a Karol and Alarie 1980). p-Tolyl(mono)isocyanate was coupled with human serum albumin for the paper (disc) radioimmunosorbent test (PRIST). There was no correlation between high titres of tolyl-specific IgE antibodies and levels of total serum IgE, in contrast to the findings with the platinum salts described earlier in which non-specific uptake of IgE could occur. The level of tolyl-specific antibodies decreased with cessation of exposure, as was the case with the platinum salts. The use of the monofunctional isocyanate prevented cross-linking of the carrier proteins which usually occurs with TDI, and ensured that the tolyl group was sterically exposed. The tolyl specificity... 

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