Mucous Membrane Test

In tests designed to evaluate the primary irritation of mucous membranes, the tissues of choice (wherever possible) should be the specific mucosal to which the chemical is applied. Differences in histology, absorptive capacity, and pH ranges of the mouth, eye, genitourinary, and rectal mucosa are great enough that results obtained on one mucosa may not apply for the other. 

Penile Mucosa In the case of the penile mucosa, the preparation is applied on the specific region and approximately 0.2 mL of the preparation is required. The erythema and edema are evaluated based on scores that total four severe 

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The inhalation toxicity of NF on animals has been studied extensively (37—40). These studies provide the basis of emergency exposure limits (EEL) that have been proposed for NE. The NAS—NRC Committee on Toxicology recommends that the EEL for NE be 10 min at 2250 ppm, 30 min at 750 ppm, and 60 min at 375 ppm. Gaseous NE is considered to be innocuous to the skin and a minor irritant to the eyes and mucous membranes. NE does give a weakly positive metabotically activated Ames test but only at concentrations greater than 2% or 10 times the 10 minute EEL. 

Acute Toxicity. Plasticizers possess an extremely low order of acute toxicity LD q values are mostiy in excess of 20,000 mg/kg body weight for oral, dermal, or intraperitoneal routes of exposure. In addition to thek low acute toxicity, many years of practical use coupled with animal tests show that plasticizers do not kritate the skin or mucous membranes and do not cause sensitization. 

Succinic anhydride is extremely irritating to the eyes. It causes skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract irritation. It may be a sensiti2er. There is no evidence of carcinogenic activity in male or female tats given 50 or 100 mg/kg succinic anhydride (186) the Ames test is negative (187). LD q in rat 1510 mg/kg. There ate no estabflshed exposure limits for ACGIH TLV or TWA. 

In all antiseptic testing, it is recognized that skin and mucous membranes to which products ate appHed cannot be disinfected or sterilized but it is possible to significantly reduce the population of transient and resident pathogenic bacterial flora. AH in vivo test methods requite a deterrnination of the bacteria on the skin before and after treatment. Because of the normal variation in bacterial population of the skin of different people, a number of people must be tested in order to make a statistical analysis of the results. Different parts of the body are used for different tests. In aH of the tests the details of the protocol ate extremely important and must be strictly adhered to in order to obtain reproducible results. 

Tests. The compd can be quant detd by flame emission spectroscopy (Ref 14a) and by FeS04 — KMn04 titrimeteiy for active 02 (Ref 9b). Toxicity. Poisonous if ingested. Highly irritating to skin and mucous membranes (Ref 17)... 

In a broad evaluation also the sulfosuccinate disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (DLSS) was a part of a variety of surfactants tested for their dermatological mildness, and some different test methods were applied [16]. Products were compared applying in vitro methods (Zein test, hemolysis) and in vivo methods (Duhring-Chamber test, skin mildness by intracutaneous test on mice and topical application on hairless mice, mucous membrane irritation according to the Draize procedure on rabbit eyes). In the Duhring-Chamber test the DLSS elicited no reactions in the animal tests it ranged in the least irritant third of the 15 products tested. 

Hepatic Effects. Liver function tests (serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase) completed in 11 hexachloroethane workers were within the normal range (Selden et al. 1994). Plasma hexachloroethane levels in these workers, who wore protective equipment, were 7.3 + 6.04 pg/L at the time of the tests (Selden et al. 1993). Mild skin and mucous membrane irritation were reported in the exposed group, suggesting that exposure may have been through either the inhalation or dermal routes of exposure. 

A. In general, any factor that increases absorption through the stratum comeum or mucous membrane will also increase the severity of an intrinsic response. Unless this factor mirrors potential exposure conditions, it may, in turn, adversely affect the relevance of test results. 

Chickenpox Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes rash-like blisters on the skin surface and mucous membranes. It is generally mild and not normally life-threatening. For adults, the symptoms are more serious and uncomfortable than for children. The disease can also be deadly for some people, such as pregnant women, people with leukemia, or immunosuppressed patients. Varivax (varicella virus vaccine live) from Merck Co. was tested on about 11,000 children and adults and was approved by the FDA in March 1995 as a chickenpox vaccine. 

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. 

A truck spill in 1985 resulted in exposure of an estimated 80 people. Signs and symptoms were headache in six persons, mucous membrane irritation in five, dizziness in five, and chest discomfort in four. Eleven of 41 persons tested had slightly elevated SCOT and/or SGPT values. In 28 persons interviewed 12 weeks after exposure, complaints were headache in 12, abdominal discomfort in 6, chest discomfort in 5, and malaise in 5. In one case the diagnosis was pneumonia, based on persistent dyspnea and cough. 

Turpentine from any source is a skin irritant if allowed to remain in contact for a sufficient length of time hypersensitivity occurs in some persons. A study of nearly 85,000 patients between 1979 and 1988 from five different countries found that fewer than 1.8% had positive patch tests to 10% turpentine in oil." The liquid can be absorbed by the skin and mucous membranes, and intoxication by this route has been reported. ... 

Riot-control agents—such as CS, CN, and CR—are solids. Edge-wood scientists felt that dissemination and decontamination would be simpler with a volatile liquid agent. Research led to the produc tlon and testing of l-methoxy-l,3,5-cycloheptatriene (CHT, EA 4923), a liquid substance of high volatility (Table 4-40) with physiologic effects typical of riot-control agents (e.g., lacrlmation, skin irrl tatlon, and mucous membrane irritation). 

During the chemical synthetic work that led to the development of CHT, several men were exposed to its vapors. The resulting lacrlmatlon and irritation of the mucous membranes passed quickly with no after-effects. The compound was therefore judged to be a potent irritant, but relatively harmless.9 Because of these observations, human volunteers and animals were tested simultaneously at Edgewood. 

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