Relative potency estimates of acceptable residues and reentry intervals after nerve agent release

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(92)90082-E· OSTI ID:7270704

Watson, A P; Jones, T D; Adams, J D ^[1]

---

1. Health and Safety Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee (United States)

In the event of an unplanned release of a chemical warfare agent during any stage of the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program, the potential exists for off-post contamination of drinking water, forage crops, grains, garden produce, and livestock. The more persistent agents, such as the organophosphate nerve agent VX, pose the greatest human health concern for reentry. A relative potency approach comparing the toxicity of VX to organophosphate insecticide analogues is developed and used to estimate allowable residues for VX in agricultural products and reentry intervals for public access to contaminated areas. Analysis of mammalian LD50 data by all exposure routes indicates that VX is 10(3) to 10(4) times more toxic than most commercially available organophosphate insecticides. Thus, allowable residues of VX could be considered at concentration levels 10(3) to 10(4) lower than those established for certain insecticides by the U.S. EPA. Evaluation of reentry intervals developed for these organophosphate analogues indicate that, if environmental monitoring cannot reliably demonstrate acceptable levels of VX, restricted access to suspect or contaminated areas may be on the order of weeks to months following agent release. Planning for relocation, mass care centers, and quarantine should take this time period into account.

• OSTI ID: 7270704
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States), Journal Name: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN EESAD; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450600* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical & Biological-- (1990)
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTAMINATION
EVALUATION
FOOD CHAINS
INSECTICIDES
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVEL
PESTICIDES
RESIDUES
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
TOXICITY
WEAPONS