Toxicity tetryl

Toxicity. MEDINA is apparently non-toxic to rabbit penile mucosa its cumulative effect on abraded and intact rabbit skin is slightly greater than Tetryl no damage was observed to rabbit cornea and there was no evidence of sensitization by subcutaneous injection in guinea pigs. It was concluded that its toxicity is similar to that of Tetryl (Ref 11, p 138)... 

Bergman BB Tetryl toxicity A summary of ten years experience. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 5. l0-20, 1952... 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Toxicological Profile for Tetryl (2,4,6 Trinitrophenyl-N-Methylnitramine) pp 1-100. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1995... 

More serious than dermatoses caused by skin contact with Tetryl, TNT, DNT, Hg-Fulminate, solvents etc, during explosives and ammunition production, are exposures to toxic dusts, fumes and vapors. Among these are TNT, DNT, oxides of N, Pb-dusts and vapors, and solvent vapors. Special skin cleansing agents and solns for detecting these harmful materials on the skin are discussed in Ref 1... 

It is v slightly hygroscopic and does not seem to be toxic. HMTD is not compatible with most metals even when it is dry. It attacks Al, Sn, Zn, brass, Cu, Pb and iron (Ref 16). Mixtures of HMTD with PA, RDX, PETN and Tetryl appeared to be stable at 50° Mixtures of HMTD with TNT or KC103 were less stable (Ref 16)... 

Tetryl is a pale yellow, crystalline solid with a melting temperature of 129 °C. It is moderately sensitive to initiation by friction and percussion, and is used in the form of pressed pellets as primers for explosive compositions which are less sensitive to initiation. It is slightly more sensitive than picric acid, and considerably more sensitive than TNT. Tetryl is quite toxic to handle and is now being replaced by RDX and... 

Commercial DNCB, yel crysts, mp ca 5 0°, consists mostly of 2,4-DNCB with a small amt of 2,6-DNCB. This product is considered more toxic than NB. It causes dermatitus systemic poisoning(Ref 12). DNCB is an expl si more powerful than DNB and comparable in sensitivity to TNT(Ref 4). The expl props of DNCB its mixts with PA, TNT or AN were studied by Burlot Tavernier(Ref 7). It has been reported that phosgene is produced on low order deton of DNCB(Ref 6). DNCB is used as an intermediate in one method for the manuf of tetryl. It may also be further nitrated to 2, 4,6 -Trinitro-l-chlorobenzene(abbreviated TNCB) and also known as Picryl Chloride(See below) Refs l)Beil 5, 262-64, (137-39) [196-97] 2)G.Koerner A. Contardi, AttiAccadLincei-Rend 23, 4 64-71(1914) SS 10, 77(1915) 2a) Ullmann 2(1928), 277-78 3)J. Mason, JCS... 

Initiating ability, min amts reqd for initiation of 0.4 g HE are for TNT 0.10g, PA 0.05, Tetryl 0.04, Exp D 0.15, which values are smaller than corresponding valves for MF Power by Trauzl test, 135% PA 140% TNT Sensitivity to beat, detonates when heated rapidly or when exposed to a flame Stability, moderately volatile hygroscopic Toxicity, details are unknown (Ref 22)... 

Med J Australia 31, 104-06 (1944) CA 38, 4805 (1944) (The incidence of Tetryl dermatitis, known as "CE Rash ) 11)W.F. von Oettingen et al, Toxicity and Potential Dangers of Penta-Erythri-tol-Tetranitrate (PETN) , US Public Health Service Bulletin 282 (1944) 12)R-F.Sievers et al,... 

The primary purpose of this chapter is to provide public health officials, physicians, toxicologists, and other interested individuals and groups with an overall perspective of the toxicology of tetryl. It contains descriptions and evaluations of toxicological studies and epidemiological investigations and provides conclusions, where possible, on the relevance of toxicity and toxicokinetic data to public health. 

Several studies are available regarding health effects in humans exposed to tetryl in munitions manufacturing plants. In most studies, the number of workers or the duration and level of exposure were not provided. These studies were conducted during World War I and World War II when tetryl was being manufactured in large quantities. The workers were exposed by both dermal and inhalation routes, and it is possible that some of the dusts were swallowed. The toxic effects, other than dermal and ocular effects, are described in Section 2.2.1, Inhalation Exposure. 

No information was located regarding the mechanism by which tetryl enters the blood stream from the lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract, the mechanism by which tetryl is transported in the blood stream, or the mechanism of toxicity for tetryl. Earlier studies suggested that the cause of tetryl-induced dermatitis, which is the most common and widely studied adverse effect, may be both physical (direct irritation by sharp tetryl crystals) and chemical (by reacting with components of the skin) (Ruxton 1917). The chemical hypothesis was later advanced by others as well (Bain and Thompson 1954 Brownlie and Cumming 1946). Bain and Thompson (1954) specifically suggested that histamine release may result from a tetryl-induced sensitization reaction or from direct tetryl-induced release from mast cells. 

No information was located regarding interactions between tetryl and other chemicals in humans or animals. There are no known chemicals that influence the toxicity of tetryl in the body. 

Smith 1916). There are no other populations that are known to be unusually susceptible to the toxic effects of tetryl. 

This section will describe clinical practice and research concerning methods for reducing toxic effects of exposure to tetryl. However, because some of the treatments discussed may be experimental and unproven, this section should not be used as a guide for treatment of exposures to tetryl. When specific exposures have occurred, poison control centers and medical toxicologists should be consulted for medical advice. 

Reproductive Toxicity. Information regarding reproductive effects in humans comes primarily from two studies that indicated that a small number of women workers exposed to unspecified levels of tetryl dusts in factories developed menstrual irregularities (Cripps 1917 Hardy and Maloof 1950). 

Developmental Toxicity. No information was available regarding developmental effects in humans or animals following exposure to tetryl by any route. In order to assure that humans living near hazardous waste sites containing tetryl are not adversely affected by this substance, oral studies examining developmental end points would need to be performed in animals. If dermal absorption proves to be significant, dermal studies in animals that examine developmental end points may also be relevant. 

Neurotoxicity. The only available information regarding neurotoxicity of workers exposed to tetryl dusts, primarily via inhalation, were occasional irritability, headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and insomnia (Bergman 1952 Brabham 1943 Cripps 1917 Hardy and Maloof 1950 Hilton and Swanston 1941 Murray et al. 1944 Smith 1916 Witkowski et al. 1942). No other data in humans or animals were available. Because the effects noted in workers were minor and relatively nonspecific, it is not likely that the nervous system was a target of toxicity. Further studies in animals would be useful in understanding the neurotoxicity of tetryl. 

Effect There are no specific biomarkers for the effects of tetryl. The toxic effects of tetryl, such as headaches, coughs, nausea, and dermatitis, are too general to be used to characterize exposure to this substance. Patch tests can be conducted in individuals who appear to be sensitive to tetryl (i.e., those who exhibit hypersensitivity-like reactions). Further studies are necessary to determine which types of biomarkers can be used to indicate effects caused by tetryl. 

Methods for Reducing Toxic Effects. Limited information is available on treatments to alleviate the symptoms of tetryl exposure. These include treatment of the dermatitis with calamine lotion and/or zinc oxide preparations, treatment of dermatitis and ocular irritation with aluminum acetate or boric acid compresses, and treatment of hypersensitivity-like symptoms (including severe dermatitis and asthma-like symptoms) with epinephrine or antihistamines (Bain and Thomson I 954 Bergman 1952 Cripps 1917 Eddy 1943 Ruxton 1917 Smith 1916 Troup 1946 Witkowski et al. 1942). The data on the pharmacokinetics of tetryl are also limited (Zambrano and Mandovano 1956). In order to develop mitigating agents, further studies are needed on its kinetics and mechanisms of action. 

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