Eye and Skin Irritants

Ammonia, alkaline dusts and mists, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, halogens, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, phosgene, and phosphorous chloride can irritate the eyes and skin. 

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With respect to acute toxicity, based on lethaHty in rats or rabbits, acryhc monomers are slightly to moderately toxic. Mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract are particularly sensitive to irritation. Acrylates can produce a range of eye and skin irritations from slight to corrosive depending on the monomer. 

Sulfolane causes minimal and transient eye and skin irritation (19,20). Inhalation of sulfolane vapors in a saturated atmosphere is not considered biologically significant. However, when aerosol dispersions have been used to elevate atmospheric concentration, blood changes and convulsions have been observed in laboratory animals (22,31). Convulsions caused by sulfolane injected intraperitoneaHy have also been studied (32). 

When sulfonic acids are neutralized to sulfonic acid salts, the materials become relatively innocuous and low in toxicity, as compared to the parent sulfonic acid (see Table 4). The neutralized materials cause considerably less eye and skin irritation. The most toxic route of entry for sulfonic acid salts is ingestion (39). The toxicity of neutralized sulfonic acids, especially detergent sulfonates, has been directiy related to the foaming capabiUty of the material. 

Acute toxicity in laboratory animals and target species, including eye and skin irritation and toxicity. 

Health and Safety Factors. Neopentanoic acid possesses low toxicity, either by ingestion (oral LD q in rats is 2.0 g/kg) or by skin absorption (dermal LD q in rabbits is 3.16 g/kg). The principal ha2ards associated with neopentanoic acid at ambient temperatures are from eye and skin irritation. At elevated temperatures, where concentrations of the vapor are significant, irritation of the respiratory tract can also occur. Contact with the material should be avoided. 

Methods of testing for eye and skin irritation potential have been reviewed (137). The official FHSA procedure for evaluating ocular irritation potential of detergent products is a modified Drai2e rabbit eye test (138). Some controversy surrounds this method at present, and a search for a procedure less injurious to test animals is in progress. In general, the order of irritation is cationic > anionic > nonionic (139). 

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Protective clothing and chemical goggles Symptoms Following Exposure On direct contact can produce eye and skin irritation General Treatment for Exposure CONTACT WITH EYES AND SKIN wash with water for 15 min Toxicity by Inhalation No data Short-Term Exposure Limits No data Toxicity by Ingestion Grade 0 LDjo>33.3 g/kg (rat) Late Toxicity Data not available Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics Data not available Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics Skin effects are minor Odor Threshold 0.168 ppm. 

Caution Contact with 2-bromoallylamine can cause severe eye and skin irritation. This preparation should he carried out in a good hood, and the operator should wear protective goggles and rubber gloves. 

As the central function of a shampoo is to cleanse the hair, the primary ingredient of a shampoo is a detergent (also known as a surfactant). Many shampoos, particularly those targeted for babies and children, claim to cause no eye irritation or sting. A no-tears formulation achieves this claim by carefully adjusting the nature of the surfactants. In particular, the identity and concentration of surfactants with an ionic or charged portion are controlled to minimize both eye and skin irritation. 

As a class, pulmonary agents do not have good warning properties. However, halogens and some alkylating agents will produce eye and skin irritation at low levels. 

Inhalation is the most important route of exposure for phosgene. Because of phosgene s mild upper respiratory, eye, and skin irritancy and mildly pleasant odor, an exposed victim may not actively seek an avenue of escape before lower respiratory damage has occurred (Currie et al. 1987a Lipsett et al. 1994). Pulmonary edema is the cause of death after a clinical latency period of <24 hours (h) (Franch and Hatch 1986). 

Weil, C.S. and Scala, R.A. (1971). Study of intra- and interlaboratory variability in the results of rabbit eye and skin irritation tests. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 19 276-360. 

At the same time, several types of data necessary to ensure proper management of occupational risks associated with a drug substance are not generally useful in evaluating potential patient risks. So the necessary tests—eye and skin irritation, sensitization and inhalation toxicity, as well as assessment of the hazards of byproducts and impurities that do not get incorporated into the final therapeutic product—are not performed in the normal course of development. 

Society and Toxicology. (1989). SOT Position Paper, comments on the LD50 and acute eye and skin irritation tests. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 13 621-623. 

The chemicals used in this experiment are eye and skin irritants. Wash thoroughly if they are spilled on the skin. 

When used commercially, 2,4-D has produced serious eye and skin irritation among agricultural workers. The direct risks of the chemical to humans makes it an ERA toxicity class Ill-slightly toxic when ingested orally, but toxicity class I-highly toxic, for eye exposure. Immediate, direct, acute, and high-level exposure can injure liver, kidney, muscle, and brain tissues. ... 

Symptoms of exposure Severe eye and skin irritant (NIOSH, 1997). An irritation concentration of 20.00 mg/m in air was reported by Ruth (1986). 

Symptoms of exposure Eye and skin irritant. Inhalation may cause asphyxia and headache. Ingestion and skin absorption may cause headache, lightheadedness, sneezing, weakness, nausea,... 

Symptoms of exposure Miosis eye and skin irritation rhinorrhea headache tight chest, wheezing, laryngeal spasm salivation anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps diarrhea. 

Symptoms of exposure Inhalation may cause headache, visual disturbance, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, malaise, hand tremor, convulsions, eye and skin irritation (NIOSH, 1997). 

Information regarding health effects of fuel oils in humans and animals is available for the inhalation, oral, and dermal routes of exposure. Most of the information in humans is from cases of accidental ingestion of kerosene that resulted in respiratory, neurotoxic, and to a lesser extent, gastrointestinal effects. In addition, a few case studies have identified these effects as well as cardiovascular, hematological, and renal effects in humans after inhalation and/or dermal exposures to fuel oils. Fuel oils appear to be eye and skin irritants in both animals and humans following direct contact. Animal data exist for most systemic effects however, the data are inconclusive for many of the endpoints. Further, a number of the animal studies... 

Toxicology. Ethylene dibromide (EDB) is a severe mucous membrane, eye, and skin irritant. It is a testicular toxicant and causes liver and kidney damage it is carcinogenic in experimental animals. 

Glutaraldehyde also can produce eye and skin irritation when its solutions are aerosolized." It has a low vapor pressure at room temperature, which reduces the potential for inhalation exposures. 

In rats the oral LDso was 560mg/kg and the dermal LDso was 3550mg/kg. Slight eye and skin irritation were noted in acute toxicity studies with rabbits. 

Rats inhaling a lethal concentration of 20 ppm for 5 hours exhibited marked respiratory irritation, tremors, and convulsions during exposure, and their lungs revealed severe congestion and edema after death. HMDI is a strong eye and skin irritant in animals. A 5% solution applied to the skin of guinea pigs produced erythema and edema, and rabbits treated with 0.1 mg showed severe skin reactions. ... 

Toxicology. Phenyl mercaptan is a central nervous system stimulant the liquid is a severe eye and skin irritant. 

Toxicology. -Valeraldehyde has low systemic toxicity but is considered an eye and skin irritant. 

Toxicology. Wood dust exposure may cause eye and skin irritation, respiratory effects, and hardwood nasal cancer. Irritation of the skin and eyes resulting ftom contact with wood dust is relatively common and may result ftom mechanical action (e.g., irritation caused by bristles and splinters), chemical irritation, sensitization, or a combination of these factors. ... 

Acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity, eye and skin irritation, as well as skin sensitization... 

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