Toxicity of Neutralents

When sulfonic acids are neutralized to sulfonic acid salts, the materials become relatively innocuous and low in toxicity, as compared to the parent sulfonic acid (see Table 4). The neutralized materials cause considerably less eye and skin irritation. The most toxic route of entry for sulfonic acid salts is ingestion (39). The toxicity of neutralized sulfonic acids, especially detergent sulfonates, has been directiy related to the foaming capabiUty of the material. 

The inhalation toxicity of neutralents from the RRS red process treatment of HD, HN, and lewisite was tested in rats by 14-day exposures. The neutralent contained 53 percent chloroform, 30 percent t-butyl alcohol, trace amounts of DCDMH, and less than 1 ppm HN or HD, or 37 ppm lewisite. The toxicity of the waste stream was compared with that of an aerosol containing 58.3 percent chloroform, 39.1 percent tert-butanol, and 2.6 percent water (the vehicle control). Concentrations of 24,000 ppm of the vehicle control or neutralent killed all of the test animals. Lower doses caused excessive salivation, ocular and nasal discharge, lack of coordination, listlessness, difficult breathing, and corneal opacity. The inhalation effects of the nentralent on test animals were consistent with those of the t-butanol and chloroform components of the O/SS (Morgan et al., 1997). 

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