Toxicity Screening of Hydrolyzed H, HD, and HT using the Bioluminescent Marine Bacterium, Vibrio Fischeri, by Means of Microtox Assay
Abstract
The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center developed an alternative method for disposal of the chemical agent, sulfur mustard. The mineralization of HD through hot water hydrolysis with subsequent neutralization using NaOH, followed by biodegradation, has been demonstrated to be an effective technology at the Aberdeen Chemical Disposal Facility (ABCDF). In Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative sponsored testing, the mineralization process (reaction with hot water followed by neutralization using NaOH) has been applied to three grades of the vesicant chemical agent sulfur mustard, H, HD, and HT, at various feed loading concentrations. These three grades were obtained from projectiles, not from ton containers as was the case in application of the ABCDF technology. This research compared the toxicity of hydrolyzed neutralized mustard agent grades H, HD, and HT, using the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri in Microtox bioassays (MTX). The 3.8%HT-Hydrolysate, 3.8% HD-Hydrolysate, and 1% H-Hydrolysate all had similar EC50 toxicity values on the basis of 5-min MTX bioassay results and were approximately five times more toxic than the 1.3% HD- Hydrolysate. The 8.6% H-Hydrolysate and the 8.6% HD-Hydrolysate were the most toxic of the samples tested, and were approximately 32 and 14 times more toxic, respectively, than the 1.3% HD-Hydrolysate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA447998
Entities
People
- Mark V. Haley
- Ronald T. Checkai
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center