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Suggested Citation:"Lethal Effects (LCt50)." National Research Council. 1997. Review of Acute Human-Toxicity Estimates for Selected Chemical-Warfare Agents. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5825.
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Page 28

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REVIEW OF ACUTE HUMAN-TOXICITY ESTIMATES FOR GB (SARIN) 28 3— Review of Acute Human-Toxicity Estimates for GB (Sarin) GB (Sarin or isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is an organophosphate nerve agent. The physical and chemical properties, toxico-kinetics, and toxicity of GB are discussed in detail by CDEPAT (1994), Marrs et al. (1996), and Somani (1994). Only a few toxicity end points were considered (for example, lethality in animals, incapacitation, changes in cholinesterase (ChE) activity, and ocular effects). The subcommittee's assessment of the scientific validity of CDEPAT's proposed human-toxicity estimates for GB is discussed below. PERCUTANEOUS VAPOR EXPOSURE Lethal Effects (LCt50) After reviewing the available animal lethality data, CDEPAT proposed a human LCt50 estimate of 10,000 mg-min/m3 following percutaneous exposure to GB vapor, assuming light clothing and exposure durations of 30 to 50 min for the soldiers. The existing LCt50 estimate is 15,000 mg-min/m3 (CDEPAT 1994). The Army's proposed estimate is supported by an LCt50 of 9,700 mg

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No reliable acute-exposure1 standards have been established for the particular purpose of protecting soldiers from toxic exposures to chemical warfare (CW) agents. Some human-toxicity estimates are available for the most common CW agents—organophosphorus nerve agents and vesicants; however, most of those estimates were developed for offensive purposes (that is, to kill or incapacitate the enemy) and were intended to be interim values only. Because of the possibility of a chemical attack by a foreign power, the Army's Office of the Surgeon General asked the Army's Chemical Defense Equipment Process Action Team (CDEPAT) to review the toxicity data for the nerve agents GA (tabun), GB(sarin), GD (soman), GF, and VX, and the vesicant agent sulfur mustard (HD) and to establish a set of exposure limits that would be useful in protecting soldiers from toxic exposures to those agents. This report is an independent review of the CDEPAT report to determine the scientific validity of the proposed estimates.

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