Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical Warfare Agents: Current Status of Oral Reference Doses

  • Chapter
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 172))

Abstract

A 1998 paper published in Reviews in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (Opresko et al. 1998) documented the development of oral reference doses (RfDs) for several groups of chemical warfare agents; i.e., sulfur mustard agents, nitrogen mustard agents, organophosphate nerve agents, the arsenical lewisite, and cyanogen chloride. The development of these reference doses was initiated by the U.S. Army Environmental Center (USAEC) to support its continuing task of remediating sites potentially contaminated by past releases of hazardous substances. This action was taken under general provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The USAEC, which functions as the program manager for the Army’s Installation Restoration Program (IRP), determined that responsible and efficient cleanup of both active installations and formerly used defense sites (FUDS) contaminated with chemical warfare agent residues required key toxicological parameters for performing IRP site health risk assessments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bakshi KS, Pang SNJ, Snyder R (2000) Review of the Army’s health risk assessments for oral exposure to six chemical-warfare agents. J Toxicol Environ Health A 59: 281–526.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bucci TJ, Parker RM (1992) Toxicity studies on agents GB and GD (phase II), 90 day subchronic study of GB (sarin type II) in CD-rats. Final report. National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR. DTIC: AD-A248618. Prepared for U.S. Departaient of the Army, Biomedical Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Detrick, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucci TJ, Parker RM, Crowell JA, Thurman JD, Gosnell PA (1992a) Toxicity studies on agent GA (phase II): 90 day subchronic study of GA (tabun) in CD rats. Final report. National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR. DTIC: AD-A258042. Prepared for the U.S. Department of the Army, Biomedical Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Detrick, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucci TJ, Parker RM, Gosnell PA (1992b) Toxicity studies on agents GB and GD (phase II): 90 day subchronic study of GD (soman) in CD-rats. National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR. FDA 224–85-0007. Prepared for the U.S. Department of the Army, Biomedical Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Detrick, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicmanec JL, Dourson ML, Hertzberg RC (1996) Noncancer risk assessment: present and emerging issues. In: Fan AM, Chang LW (eds) Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Principles, Methods, and Applications. Dekker, New York, pp 293–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Army (DA) (1987) Safety regulations for chemical agents H, HD, HT, GB and VX. AMC-R 385–131. U.S. Department of the Army, Material Command, Alexandria, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Army (DA) (1990) Occupational health guidelines for evaluation and control of occupational exposure to nerve agents GA, GB, GD and VX. DA Pam 40–8. U.S. Department of the Army, Headquarters, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman DB (1977) Simplified gastric intubation in the rabbit. Lab Anim Sci 27:1037–1038.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hackett PL, Rommereim RL, Burton FG, Buschbom RL, Sasser LB (1987) Teratology studies on lewisite and sulfur mustard agents: effects of sulfur mustard in rats and rabbits. DTIC: AD A187495. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA. Prepared for the U.S. Department of the Army, Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewett CL (1948) Isomers of 2-chlorovinyl dichloroarsine. J Chem Soc 1948(part II): 1203–1205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health, Mozambique (1984a) Mantakassa: an epidemic of spastic paraparesis associated with chronic cyanide intoxication in a cassava staple area of Mozambique. 1. Epidemiology and clinical and laboratory findings in patients. Bull WHO 62:477–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health, Mozambique (1984b) Mantakassa: an epidemic of spastic paraparesis associated with chronic cyanide intoxication in a cassava staple area of Mozambique. 2. Nutritional factors and hydrocyanic acid content in cassava. Bull WHO 62:485–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mioduszewski RJ, Reutter SA, Miller LL, Olajos EJ, Thomson SA (1998) Evaluation of airborne exposure limits for G-agents: occupational and general population exposure criteria. ERDEC-TR-489. Edgewood Research Development and Engineering Center, U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC) (1999) Review of the US Army’s Health Risk Assessments for Oral Exposure to Six Chemical-Warfare Agents. Subcommittee on Chronic Reference Doses for Selected Chemical Warfare Agents, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Toxicology Program (NTP) (1993) Sodium cyanide (CAS No. 143–33-9) administered in drinking water to F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. NTP Toxicity report, series No. 37. NIH Publication 94–3386. National Toxicology Program, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opresko DM, Young, RA, Faust RA, Talmage SS, Watson, AP, Ross RH, Davidson KA, King J (1998) Chemical warfare agents: estimating oral reference doses. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 156:1–183.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Army Surgeon General (OTSG) (1996) Interim chronic toxicological criteria for chemical warfare compounds. Memorandum MCHB-DC-C, 4 June 1996. Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Army Surgeon General (OTSG) (2000a) Letter from BG Lester Martinez-Lopez, U.S. Army Functional Proponent for Preventive Medicine, OTSG, to Dr. Richard J. Jackson, Director, National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA, 30 June 2000. Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Army Surgeon General (OTSG) (2000b) Chronic toxicological criteria for chemical warfare compounds. Memorandum MCHB-CG-PPM, 16 February 2000. Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA. (On line file at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hrarcp/pages/CAW/doc.html)

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Army Surgeon General (OTSG) (2001) Letter from BG Lester Martinez-Lopez, U.S. Army Functional Proponent for Preventive Medicine, OTSG, to Dr. Richard J. Jackson, Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 8 February 2001. Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (OASA) (1999) Derivation of health-based environmental screening levels (HBESL) for chemical warfare agents. Memorandum 28 May 1999. Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant Secretary (Installations, Logistics and Environment), Army Pentagon, Washington, DC. (Online file at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hrarcp/pages/CAW/doc.html).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reutter SA, Mioduszewski RJ, Thomson SA (2000) Evaluation of airborne exposure limits for VX: worker and general population exposure criteria. ECBC-TR-074. U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Research and Technology Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice GB, Lambert TW, Haas B, Wallace V (1971) Effect of chronic ingestion of VX on ovine blood Cholinesterase. DTC 71–512. Deseret Test Center, Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, UT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblatt DH, Miller TA, Dacre JC, Muul I, Cogley, DR (1975) Problem definition studies on potential environmental pollutants. II. Physical, chemical, toxicological and biological properties of 16 substances. Technical Report 7509. U.S. Army Medical Bioengineering Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Detrick, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasser LB, Cushing JA, Kalkwarf DR, Mellick PW, Buschbom RL (1989a) Toxicology studies on lewisite and sulfur mustard agents: two-generation reproduction study of sulfur mustard (HD) in rats. PNL-6944 (DTIC AD A216423). Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasser LB, Cushing JA, Kalkwarf DR, Mellick PW, Buschbom RL (1989b) Toxicology studies of lewisite and sulfur mustard agents: two-generation reproduction study of lewisite in rats. PNL-6978. Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasser LB, Cushing JA, Kalkwarf DR, Mellick PW, Buschbom RL (1989c) Toxicology studies on lewisite and sulfur mustard agents: subchronic toxicity study of lewisite in rats. PNL-6860. Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasser LB, Cushing JA, Mellick PW, Kalkwarf DR, Dacre JC (1996) Subchronic toxicity of lewisite in rats. J Toxicol Environ Health 47:321–334.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sim VM, McClure C Jr, Vocci FJ, Feinsilver L, Groff WA (1964) Tolerance of man to VX-contaminated water. Technical Report CRDLR 3231. U.S. Department of the Army, Chemical Research and Development Laboratories, Edgewood Arsenal, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) (1999) Derivation of health-based environmental screening levels for chemical warfare agents: a technical evaluation. US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, in conjunction with the Toxicology and Risk Analysis Section, Life Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. (Available online at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hrarcp/pages/CAW/doc.html)

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) (2000a) Evaluation of airborne exposure limits for sulfur mustard: occupational and general population exposure criteria. Technical Report 47-EM-3767–00. U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) (2000b) Recommendations regarding airborne exposure limits (AELs) for nerve agents. Memorandum MCHB-TS, 14 June 2000. US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1988) Interim methods for development of inhalation reference doses. Prepared by the Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH and Research Triangle Park, NC.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1989) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Vol. 1. Human Health Evaluation Manual (part A). EPA/540/1–89/002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1994) Methods for derivation of inhalation reference concentrations and application of inhalation dosimetry. EPA/600/8–90/066F. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1996a) EPA Region III risk-based concentration table: background information. Development of risk-based concentrations. EPA contact: Roy L. Smith, EPA Region III, Office of Superfund Programs, Philadelphia, PA (online file at http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/risk/guide4.htm, retrieved 31 March 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1996b) EPA Region IX preliminary remediation goals (PRGs). 1 Aug 1996. EPA contact: Standford J. Smucker, EPA Region IX, San Francisco, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2000) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). On-line file. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young RA, Opresko DM, Watson AP, Ross RH, King J, Choudhury H (1999) Deriving toxicity values for organophosphate nerve agents. A position paper in support of the procedures and rationale for deriving oral RfDs for chemical warfare nerve agents. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 5(3):589–634.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Life Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1060 Commerce Park Drive, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830-6480, USA

    Dennis M. Opresko, Robert A. Young, Annetta P. Watson, Rosemarie A. Faust, Sylvia S. Talmage, Robert A. Ross & Kowetha A. Davidson

  2. U.S. Army Environmental Center, ATTN: SFIM-AEC-IR-P, Bldg. E-4480, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010-5401, USA

    Joseph King

  3. Environmental Health Engineering, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, ATTN: MCHB-TS-EES, Bldg. E-1675, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010-5403, USA

    Veronique Hauschild

Authors
  1. Dennis M. Opresko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert A. Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annetta P. Watson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rosemarie A. Faust
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sylvia S. Talmage
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Robert A. Ross
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kowetha A. Davidson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Joseph King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Veronique Hauschild
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. 5794 E. Camino del Celador, 85750, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    George W. Ware

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Opresko, D.M. et al. (2001). Chemical Warfare Agents: Current Status of Oral Reference Doses. In: Ware, G.W. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 172. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0159-2_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0159-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9484-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0159-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation