Toxicity, respiratory

ERNEST HODGSON, PATRICIA E. LEVI, and JAMES C. BONNER 

---

The interplay between the chemical and biological properties of the threat agent, on the one hand, and the specific attack scenario, on the other, can influence the lethality of the attack. Table 2-2 shows the relative respiratory toxicities (expressed as the lethal concentration of toxin at which 50 percent of test animals are killed, or LCT50, in milligrams per minute per cubic meter) of a variety of toxic gases compared with chlorine gas, which was used as a chemical weapon in World War I. According to Table 2-2, the nerve agent sarin (GB) has a respiratory toxicity approximately 100 times that of chlorine, while sulfur mustard (HD) is about 7 times more toxic. However, the lethality of an attack... 

Muller, J. et al. (2005) Respiratory toxicity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology,... 

Muller, J., Huaux, F. and Lison, D. (2006) Respiratory toxicity of carbon nanotubes how worried should we be Carbon,... 

Muller, J., F. Huaux, N. Moreau, P. Misson, J.F. Heilier, M. Delos, Respiratory toxicity of multiwall carbon nanotubes. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 207, 221-231, 2005. 

Romeu-Moreno, A., A. Aguilar, L. Arola, and A. Mas. 1994. Respiratory toxicity of copper. Environ. Health Perspect. 102 (Suppl. 3) 339-340. 

Upper respiratory toxicants include hydrogen halides (hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide), oxides (nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, sodium oxide), and hydroxides (ammonium hydroxide, sodium dusts, and potassium hydroxides). Lower respiratory toxicants include monomers (such as acrylonitrile), halides (fluorine, chlorine, bromine), and other miscellaneous... 

Tune, B.M., Sibley, R.K. and Hsu, C.Y. (1988). The mitochondrial respiratory toxicity of cephalosporin antibiotics. An inhibitory effect on substrate uptake. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 245 1054-1059. 

Respiratory Effects. No studies were located regarding the respiratory toxicity of mirex in humans or animals. Thus, insufficient information is available to determine whether persons exposed to mirex at hazardous waste sites might experience adverse respiratory effects. 

Muller J, Huaux F, Moreau N, Misson P, Heilier JF, Delos M, Arras M, Fonseca A, Nagy JB, Lison D (2005) Respiratory toxicity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 207 221-231. 

A second category of respiratory toxicity is that characterized by damage to the cells anywhere along the respiratory tract. Such damage can cause the release of fluid to the open spaces of the tract, and result in accumulation of that fluid, or edema, in several areas. These edematous reactions can occur after acute exposure to some chemicals, although the production of edema can be delayed, and arise after subchronic and chronic exposures. 

The Clean Air Act recognizes a number of so-called primary air pollutants, and the EPA has established standards for these substances. Ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide are among these (the others are carbon monoxide and lead, discussed below, and total suspended particulates ). The EPA s standard for ozone is 0.08 parts of the gas per million parts of air (0.08 ppm), averaged over eight hours. Standards also exist for the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. These are designed to prevent chronic respiratory toxicity of any kind. 

Ohashi Y, Nakai Y, Ikeoka H, et al An experimental study on the respiratory toxicity of isopropyl alcohol. J Appl Toxicol 8 67-71, 1987... 

The most common use of NjO is in combination with the more potent volatile anesthetics. It decreases the dosage requirement for the other anesthetics, thus lowering their cardiovascular and respiratory toxicities. For example, an appropriate anesthetic maintenance tension for N2O and halothane would be N2O 40% and halothane 0.5%. With this combination in a healthy patient, anesthesia is adequate for major surgery, and the dose-dependent cardiac effects of halothane are reduced. 

Respiratory toxicity, manifested as dyspnea and pneumonia, may occur. 

The danger of bupropion overdose is limited to the risk of seizures for the most part. However, seizures are seldom life threatening unless they result in motor vehicle accidents, falls, or other trauma-related events. Bupropion s lack of significant cardiovascular or respiratory toxicity means that it is rarely lethal in overdose. 

---