Hydrogen peroxide acute toxicity

Humans Hydrogen peroxide has been used as an enema or as a cleaning agent for endoscopes and may cause mucosal damage when applied to the surface of the gut wall. Hydrogen peroxide enteritis can mimic an acute ulcerative, ischaemic or pseudomembranous colitis, and ranges from a reversible, clinically inapparent process to an acute, toxic fulminant colitis associated with perforation and death (Bilotta and Waye, 1989). It is conceivable that anecdotal reports of exacerbation of IBD by iron supplementation (Kawai et al. 1992) are mediated by hydroxyl radical production by the Fenton reaction. 

Acute pancreatitis has been induced in dogs by retrograde intraductal injections of 5% hydrogen peroxide solution and sunflower oil (Keleman and Torok, 1990) and in rats by continuous infusion of xanthine/XO or hydrogen peroxide into the coeliac artery (Tamura et al., 1991a). Xanthine/XO has also been shown to be toxic, as measured by release of LDH, to in vitro rat pancreatic acini (Tamura et al., 1991b). 

Skin-Contact Toxicity Data for acute (short-term) exposures of the skin to corrosive and toxic liquids, solids, and gases are extremely limited, particularly where the consequences are severe or fatal injury and the available data may not be useful, from an engineering standpoint. For example, the skin toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to rats is stated as 4060 mg/kg, but the skin area and duration of exposure are not stated. Thus, it is not possible (with the available data) to estimate the relationship among percent of body surface exposed to a corrosive material, the concentration of the corrosive material, the duration of exposure (before removal of the corrosive material), and the severity of the effect. 

Oberst FW, Comstock CC, Hackley EB Inhalation toxicity of ninety per cent hydrogen peroxide vapor—acute, subacute, and chronic exposures of laboratory animals. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 10 319-327, 1954... 

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