Variations in Time-To-Incapacitation and Blood Cyanide Values for Rats Exposed to Two Hydrogen Cyanide Gas Concentrations
Abstract
It has been suggested that protective breathing devices protect aircraft passengers from combustion products for 5 min during evacuation and for 35 min during in-flight-plus-evacuation. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a combustion gas, produces incapacitation at relatively low concentrations, and time-to- incapacitation (ti)is an applicable index for predicting escape from a fire. Variations in ti and blood cyanide (CN value) at specific HCN gas exposure concentrations have not been evaluated. Therefore, ti and blood CN value at ti for two HCN concentration that produce 5- and 35- min ti were determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood CN value levels as a function of HCN exposure time were measured. Animals were individually exposed to HCN gas in a chamber equipped with a rotating cage, and ti recorded as the time from insertion of the animal into the cage until it could no longer walk. At incapacitation and at selected intervals prior to ti, rats were quickly removed from the cage and killed for blood collection and CN value quantitation. Chamber HC concentrations were monitored during the exposures
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA265924
Entities
People
- Arvind K. Chaturvedi
- Boyd R. Endecott
- Donald C. Sanders
- Roxane M. Ritter
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration