The Inhalation Toxicity of VX Aerosols Assessed in the McNamara Glove Box Facility
Abstract
A series of mouse nose-only inhalation exposures with VX were conducted in the recently established McNamara glove box facility for the purpose of providing LCt50 reference data for future studies in this facility and to serve as a benchmark for ranking the toxicity of other agents. Neat VX challenge aerosols were generated by feeding micro-liter quantities of agent from a loaded syringe to a custom-made air assist atomizer. Exposure concentrations were assessed by both real-time aerosol monitor and gas chromatograph analysis of chamber filter pack samples. Exposures were in for 10 minutes in duration with 4 animals per test. An "up and down" paradigm was used to sequentially select target agent concentration levels from one exposure run to the next based on the resulting 24 hour lethality traction. Chamber sampling results indicated that over the concentration range tested, the agent existed primarily in the aerosol phase most likely because of the brief transit time between the atomizer and the chamber exposure ports which did not allow sufficient time for vapor equilibration. The resulting LCt50 for neat VX aerosol in the mouse via the inhalation route was significantly lower than anticipated based on another recent nose-only study in which mice were challenged with saline aerosols laced with VX. Overall our results indicate that the LCt50 for VX aerosol in the mouse via the nose-only exposure method is comparable to previously reported values for head only and whole body exposures under conditions of vapor and aerosol challenge.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA449661
Entities
People
- David A. Mccaskey
- John C. Carpin
- Kenneth P. Cameron
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center