Abstract
Rabbit eyes were contaminated with the riot control agent o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) in solution (0.5 to 10 % in polyethylene glycol 300), as a solid (0.5 to 5 mg), and as a pyrotechnically generated smoke (15 min exposure to 6 g/m3). CS caused lachrymation, blepharitis and conjunctival irritation by all the methods of contamination, the severity and duration of which increased with the amount of material applied. Effects were most severe with CS in solution, less with solid, and least marked with smokes. Mild and transient keratitis and iritis occurred with solutions containing 1 % CS, being more severe and prolonged with the higher concentrations. Damage was due to CS, and not to its products of hydrolysis. Keratitis was not seen after exposure to smokes containing CS, and superficial corneal damage of short duration occurred only in a few animals treated with 5 mg solid CS. A concentration-dependent increase in intraocular tension, of less than 1 h duration, occurred with solutions of CS.
Zusammenfassung
Kaninchenaugen wurden der Einwirkung des chemischen Reizstoffes o-Chlorobenzyliden malononitril (CS) ausgesetzt. Das CS wurde teils als Lösung in Polyäthylenglykol 300 (0,5 bis 10 %), teils als Pulver, teils als pyrotechnisch erzeugter Schwebstoff (Einwirkungszeit 15 min, Konzentration 6 g/m3) den Augen zugeführt. Alle drei Einwirkungsarten verursachten Tränenfluß, Lidkrampf und Reizung der Bindehaut. Je größer die eingebrachte Menge von CS desto größer war die Dauer und Schwere der Einwirkung. Am wirksamsten war CS. Lösung, weniger wirksam CS Pulver und relativ am unwirksamsten CS als Schwebstoff. Leichte und vorübergehende Keratitis und Iritis wurde bereits durch 1 %ige CS-Lösungen verursacht. Bei höheren Konzentrationen war die Keratitis schwerer und von längerer Dauer. Die Schädigung wurde nicht durch seine hydrolytischen Abbauprodukte o-Chlorobenzaldehyd oder Malononitril verursacht. Nach der Einwirkung von CS-Schwebstoff trat in keinem Falle eine Keratitis auf. Die Einbringung von 5 mg CS-Pulver erzeugte bloß oberflächliche und leichte Läsionen auf der Hornhaut einiger Kaninchen. CS-Lösungen verursachten ein Anstiegen des Augendruckes, aber die Wirkung war innerhalb 1 Std bereits abgeflaut. Bei höheren Konzentrationen dauerte die Wirkung etwas länger.
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Ballantyne, B., Gazzard, M.F., Swanston, D.W. et al. The ophthalmic toxicology of o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS). Arch. Toxicol. 32, 149–168 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318430
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318430