Toxicity equivalent technologies

It is accepted that many widely used latex vulcanisation accelerators - dithiocaibamates, thiurams and thiazoles - are capable of producing Type IV allergic response in certain individuals within the population and may also possess increasingly unacceptable eco-toxic and acute toxicity profiles. Thiurams and dithiocaibamates (derived from secondary amines) can also produce potentially harmful N-nitrosamines. Four safer accelerators developed and commercialised by Robinson Brothers are described. They are designed to reduce or eliminate the impact of the above problems using sustainable technology. At the same time these accelerators produce equivalent technological performances to those conventionally used. 10 refs. 

The use of animals for routine toxicity testing is now questioned by a growing segment of society. If currently used animal tests are to be successfully replaced, it is important to demonstrate that the alternative methods provide chemical hazard data equivalent to that now available from animal-based tests. Additionally, in order for toxicologists to take the best advantage of new technologies that are constantly evolving, it is important that the validation process be conducted in a manner that efficiently and definitely characterizes the performance of new test methods. 

While Ambergard and RSDL represent significant technological advances over fullers earth, all three are broadly equivalent in terms of efficacy and each have relative merits or disadvantages with regards to practicality, toxicity and economy. 

Dermabond (2-octylcyanoacrylate by Ethicon, a Johnson Johnson Company), the latest in cyanoacrylate technology, has less toxicity and almost four times the strength of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Special plasticizers have been added to the formula to provide flexibility. It is marketed to replace sutures that are 5-0 or smaller in diameter for incision or laceration repair. Patients, especially children, readily accept the idea of being glued over traditional methods of repair [38]. This adhesive reaches maximum bonding strength within 2.5 min and is equivalent in strength to healed tissue at 7 days post-repair [38]. 

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