Sulfur mustards acute lethality

Sulfur mustards (designated H [mustard], HD [distilled mustard], and HT [HD and T mixture]) do not present acute lethal hazards. Their principal effect is severe blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. Epidemiological evidence indicates a causal relationship between exposure to mustard agent at high concentrations and the development of chronic nonreversible respiratory disorders, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma, and ocular diseases, such as delayed recurrent keratitis and prolonged, intractable conjunctivitis (IOM, 1993). Sulfur mustard has been classified as a known human carcinogen based on evidence of in-... 

TABLE 8.7. Acute lethality of sulfur mustard in laboratory species following inhalation exposure... 

Acute lethality data in animals are summarized in Table 8.7. Based upon the animal data, interspecies variability in the lethal response to sulfur mustard vapor is less than an order of magnitude. For nonlethal effects, the animal data suggest that test species exhibit signs of toxicity that are qualitatively similar to humans when acutely exposed to sulfur mustard vapor. Ocular and respiratory tract irritations are clearly evident in studies using dogs, rats, mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs. 

TABLE 8.7 Acute Lethality of Sulfur Mustard in Laboratory Species Following Inhalation Exposure... 

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