Inhalants availability

In one animal study, a significant increase in lung tumors was observed in female mice exposed by inhalation. Available data indicate a genotoxic potential for sulfur dioxide. Increases in chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges have been detected in occupationally exposed workers. The lARC has determined that there is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of sulfur dioxide in experimental animals and inadequate evidence in humans. 

Inhalers are designed to help medication to be delivered directly into the lungs, where it will act mainly on the lung tissue and systemic effects will be minimised. The doses employed in inhalers are significantly lower than those used in oral medication, so the incidence of side-effects will be reduced. There are a number of different types of inhaler available ... 

Difluoroethanol is prepared by the mercuric oxide cataly2ed hydrolysis of 2-bromo-l,l-difluoroethane with carboxyHc acid esters and alkaH metal hydroxides ia water (27). Its chemical reactions are similar to those of most alcohols. It can be oxidi2ed to difluoroacetic acid [381-73-7] (28) it forms alkoxides with alkaH and alkaline-earth metals (29) with alkoxides of other alcohols it forms mixed ethers such as 2,2-difluoroethyl methyl ether [461-57-4], bp 47°C, or 2,2-difluoroethyl ethyl ether [82907-09-3], bp 66°C (29). 2,2-Difluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether [32778-16-8], made from the alcohol and chlorodifluoromethane ia aqueous base, has been iavestigated as an inhalation anesthetic (30,31) as have several ethers made by addition of the alcohol to various fluoroalkenes (32,33). Methacrylate esters of the alcohol are useful as a sheathing material for polymers ia optical appHcations (34). The alcohol has also been reported to be useful as a working fluid ia heat pumps (35). The alcohol is available ia research quantities for ca 6/g (1992). 

Health and Safety Factors. Magnesium hydroxide is not absorbed by the skin. Dry magnesium hydroxide may irritate the eyes, skin, nasal passages, and respiratory tract. Routes of body entry are skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, and ingestion. No LD q values for Mg(OH)2 are available. 

Health and Safety Factors. Malononitrile is usually available as a soHdifted melt in plastic-Hned dmms. Remelting has to be done carefully because spontaneous decomposition can occur at elevated temperatures, particularly above 100°C, in the presence of impurities such as alkaHes, ammonium, and 2inc salts. Melting should be carried out by means of a water bath and only shordy before use. Occupational exposure to malononitrile mainly occurs by inhalation of vapors and absorption through the skin. Malononitrile has a recommended workplace exposure limit of 8 mg/m, an LD q (oral, rats) of 13.9 mg/kg, and is classified as slight irritant (skin irritation, rabbits). Transport classification RID/ADR 61, IMDG-Code 6.1, lATA/ICAO 6.1. 

Workers in the metals treatment industry are exposed to fumes, dusts, and mists containing metals and metal compounds, as well as to various chemicals from sources such as grinding wheels and lubricants. Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Historically, metal toxicology was concerned with overt effects such as abdominal coHc from lead toxicity. Because of the occupational health and safety standards of the 1990s such effects are rare. Subtie, chronic, or long-term effects of metals treatment exposure are under study. An index to safety precautions for various metal treatment processes is available (6). As additional information is gained, standards are adjusted. 

Aerosols. Pressurized containers to deHver aerosolized dmg products through appropriate systems of valves and actuators have been available since the 1950s (see Aerosols). Such dosage forms are used as external appHcations of lotions and creams, for oral inhalation, or for treatment of the vaginal cavity, eg, contraceptive foams. Aerosols contain two- or three-phase systems, wherein a volatile Hquid or admixture of Hquids is sealed in a... 

Inhalation of certain fine dusts may constitute a health hazard. Eor example, exposure to siUca, asbestos, and beryllium oxide dusts over a period of time results ki the potential risk of lung disease. OSHA regulations specify the allowable levels of exposure to kigestible and respkable materials. Material Safety Data Sheets, OSHA form 20, available from manufacturers, provide information about hazards, precautions, and storage pertinent to specific refractory products. 

Inhalation of crystalline or fused vitreous silica dust, usually overlong periods, causes a disabling, progressive pulmonary disease known as silicosis (84). Amorphous siUcas have not been linked to siUcosis (85), but can cause respiratory irritation. The history and poHtics of siUcosis have been reviewed (86). Standards have been set or recommended for occupational exposures (87,88) and review articles on the health effects of siUca are available (83,89). 

Corticosteroids are the most efficacious treatment available for the long-term treatment of asthma, and inhaled corticosteroids are considered to be a first-line therapy for asthma (247). In the early 1950s, cortisone (31) and cortisol (29) were used to treat asthma. However, dmgs with fewer side effects and with... 

Health and Safety Factors. Carbonyl sulfide is dangerously poisonous, more so because it is practically odorless when pure. It is lethal to rats at 2900 ppm. Studies show an LD q (rat, ip) of 22.5 mg/kg. The mechanism of toxic action appears to iavolve breakdowa to hydrogea sulfide (36). It acts principally on the central nervous system with death resulting mainly from respiratory paralysis. Little is known regarding the health effects of subacute or chronic exposure to carbonyl sulfide a 400-p.g/m max level has been suggested until more data are available (37). Carbon oxysulfide has a reported inhalation toxicity in mice LD q (mouse) = 2900 ppm (37). 

Shipment nd Stora.ge, Sulfur monochloride is minimally corrosive to carbon steel and iron when dry. If it is necessary to avoid discoloration caused by iron sulfide formation or chloride stress cracking, 310 stainless steel should be used. Sulfur monochloride is shipped in tank cars, tank tmcks, and steel dmms. When wet, it behaves like hydrochloric acid and attacks steel, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steels, copper and copper alloys, and many nickel-based materials. Alloys of 62 Ni—28 Mo and 54 Ni—15 Cr—16 Mo are useful under these conditions. Under DOT HM-181 sulfur monochloride is classified as a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) Zone B, as well as a Corrosive Material (DOT Hazard Class B). Shipment information is available (140). 

Health, Safety, and Environmental Factors. Sulfur dioxide has only a moderate acute toxicity (183). The lowest pubHshed human lethal concentration is 1000 ppm for 10 months. The lowest pubHshed human toxic concentration by inhalation is 3 ppm for 5 days or 12 ppm for 1 hour. The lowest pubHshed human lethal concentration is 3000 ppm for 5 months. In solution (as sulfurous acid), the lowest pubHshed toxic dose is 500 flg/kg causing gastrointestinal disturbances. Considerable data is available by other modes of exposure and to other species NIOSH standards are a time-weighted average of 2 ppm and a short-term exposure limit of 5 ppm (183). 

Guidelines are available for conducting acute or repeated exposure studies by inhalation (79—81), appHcation to the skin (82,83), or peroraHy (84,85). 

Exposure to metal carbonyls can present a serious health threat. Nickel carbonyl is considered to be one of the most poisonous inorganic compounds. However, the toxicological information available on metal carbonyls is restricted to the mote common, commercially important compounds such as Ni(CO)4 and Ee(CO). Other metal carbonyls are considered potentially dangerous, especially ia the gaseous state, by analogy to nickel and iron carbonyls. Data concerning toxicological studies on a few common metal carbonyls are Hsted ia Table 6 (185). Additional toxicity data are OSHA personal exposure limits (PEL) for Ee(CO) this is 8 h at 0.1 ppm, whereas for the much more toxic Ni(CO)4 it is 8 h at 0.001 ppm, with a toxic concentration TCLq low (of 7 mg/m ) for human inhalation. 

Dichloroethylene is toxic by inhalation and ingestion and can be absorbed by the skin. It has a TLV of 200 ppm (10). The odor does not provide adequate warning of dangerously high vapor concentrations. Thorough ventilation is essential whenever the solvent is used for both worker exposure and flammabihty concerns. Symptoms of exposure include narcosis, dizziness, and drowsiness. Currently no data are available on the chronic effects of exposure to low vapor concentrations over extended periods of time. 

Reproductive Toxicity. No data are available that impHcate either hexavalent or trivalent chromium compounds as reproductive toxins, unless exposure is by way of injection. The observed teratogenic effects of sodium dichromate(VI), chromic acid, and chromium (HI) chloride, adininistered by injection, as measured by dose-response relationships are close to the amount that would be lethal to the embryo, a common trait of many compounds (111). Reported teratogenic studies on hamsters (117,118), the mouse (119—121), and rabbits (122) have shown increased incidence of cleft palate, no effect, and testicular degeneration, respectively. Although the exposures for these experiments were provided by injections, in the final study (122) oral, inhalation, and dermal routes were also tried, and no testicular degeneration was found by these paths. 

The common acid acceptors, red lead oxide and barium carbonate, are both toxic when inhaled or ingested. They are, and should be, used in industry as dispersions in EPDM and ECO. SuppHers of red lead oxide include Polymeries, Inc., Rhein Chemie Corp., and Akrochem Co., Akron, Ohio. Barium carbonate in an ECO binder is available from Rhein Chemie Corp. and Synthetic Products Co. 

Sufficient evidence is available to indicate that atmospheric pollution in vaiying degrees does affect health adversely. [Amdur, Melvin, and Drinker, Effec t of Inhalation of Sulfur Dioxide by Man, Lancet, 2, 758 (1953) Barton, Corn, Gee, VassaUo, and Thomas, Response of Healthy Men to Inhaled Low Concentrations of Gas-Aerosol Mixtures, Arch. Lnviron. Health, 18, 681 (1969) Bates, Bell, Burnham, Hazucha, and Mantha, Problems in Studies of Human Exposure to Air Pollutants, Can. Med. A.s.soc. J., 103, 833 (1970) Ciocco and... 

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