THE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT DECONTAMINANTS IN RATS AND PIGS PERCUTANEOUSLY POISONED WITH ORGANOPHOSPHATES

The efficacys of clay or alcoholate as decontaminants and a polyethyle ne glycol + oxime N-octyl-pyridinium-4-aldoxime bromide (OPAB) protect ive ointment were evaluated in rats and pigs percutaneously poisoned w ith O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX) and soman (GD) nerve gases. The use of protective ointment per se or combi ned with the decontaminants protected all rats poisoned with GD, regar dless of the experimental procedure. No poisoning or fatalities were o bserved in pigs decontaminated 2 min later with clay or alcoholate, wh ile the protective ointment delayed the onset of poisoning and even pr evented death. The application of protective ointment, with or without the use of decontaminants, significantly postponed the onset of poiso ning in animals contaminated with VX. There was no significant differe nce between procedures. Decontamination was very satisfactory and depe ndent on the duration of exposure, being somewhat more efficient if pe rformed by 30 min after exposure.