Petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity studies. II. Animal and human response to vapors of Varnish Makers' and Painters' Naphtha

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(75)90218-5· OSTI ID:6596346

Carpenter, C P; Kinkead, E R; Geary, Jr, D L; Sullivan, L J; King, J M

The suggested hygienic standard for inhalation of Varnish Makers' and Painters' Naphtha (VM and P naphtha) for man is 2.0 mg/liter (430 ppM) based upon inhalation studies with rats and dogs and the sensory response of human subjects. Inhalation of substantially saturated vapor for more than a few minutes constitutes a hazard to life. Rats tolerated saturated vapor at room temperature for 7.5 min but loss of coordination and convulsions occurred in 15 min or more. The single 4-hr inhalation LC50 for rats was 16 mg/liter (3400 ppM), and the highest concentration producing no visible signs of discomfort was 4.4 mg/liter (940 ppM). Rats that survived the 65-day inhalation schedule of 5.8, 2.8, and 1.3 mg/liter (1200, 600, and 280 ppM) were challenged with 27 mg/liter (5800 ppM) for 6 hr. All treated rats were more resistant in terms of mortality than were either their air controls or naive controls of the same age and sex. Cats responded with signs indicative of severe central nervous system effect when subjected to 19 mg/liter (4100 ppM) for 4 hr. All cats survived the 4-hr exposure, which indicates they are at least as resistant as rats to single 4-hr inhalation. There were no dosage-related statistically significant differences between the controls and the rats and beagles that inhaled 2.8 mg/liter or 1.3 mg/liter for 6 hr daily, 5 days each week for 13 wk. The odor threshold for VM and P naphtha as determined in sniff tests by a panel of six people were found to be on the order of 0.004 mg/liter (0.86 ppM). During a 15-min inhalation period, four of seven subjects had upper respiratory tract irritation and three of seven eye irritation at 4.1 mg/liter (880 ppM). Olfactory fatigue occurred but 10 min in fresh air restored acuity.

• Research Organization: Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6596346
• Journal Information: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States), Journal Name: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.; (United States) Vol. 32:2; ISSN TXAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COAL TAR OILS
COATINGS
DATA
DISTILLATES
DOGS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
NAPHTHA
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
OILS
OLFACTORY BULBS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RATS
RODENTS
TOXICITY
VAPORS
VARNISHES
VERTEBRATES