EVALUATION OF NEUTRALIZED CHEMICAL-AGENT IDENTIFICATION SETS (CAIS) FOR SKIN INJURY WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE VESICANT POTENTIAL OF AGENT DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

Vesication and skin irritation studies were conducted in hairless guin ea-pigs to determine the vesicant and skin irritation potential of che mically-neutralized Chemical Agent Identification Sets (CAIS), The CAI S are training items that contain chemical warfare-related material-su lfur mustard (HD), nitrogen mustard (HN) or lewisite (L)-and were decl ared obsolete in 1971, Animals were dosed topically with 'test article '-neat HD, 10% agent/chloroform solutions or product solutions (waste- streams) from neutralized CAIS-and evaluated for skin-damaging effects (gross and microscopic). Product solutions from the chemical neutrali zation of neat sulfur mustard resulted in microvesicle formation, All agent-dosed (HD or agent/chloroform solutions) sites manifested microb listers as well as other histopathological lesions of the skin. Waste- streams from the neutralization of agent (agent/chloroform or agent/ch arcoal) were devoid of vesicant activity. Cutaneous effects (erythema and edema) were consistent with the skin-injurious activity associated with the neutralizing reagent 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DCD MH), Chemical neutralization of CAIS was effective in eliminating/redu cing the vesicant property of CAIS containing agent in chloroform or a gent on charcoal but was inefficient in reducing the vesicant potentia l of CAIS containing neat sulfur mustard, (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.