DCHAS-L Archives Oct 20 2010

Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:23:05 -0600
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
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From: Alan Hall <ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Paraoxone?
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTindoNe-KtJjZ9CzJsCMkt83_L8LTULGFu+RVtq2**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>

Wendy,

Paraoxon(e) is an active metabolite of parathion, a rather potent organop hosphate insecticide. You'll find a nice quick-'n'-dirty review in HSDB (got to www.nlm.nih.gov, clic k on Environmental etc. from the menu on the left, and choose HSDB from t he database list). In the same place, you'll find 2,164 hits in the TOXLINE bibliographic database. In PubMed, you'll find 1,8 23 hits.

Overall, when someone says "X is _____ times more toxic than Y", they a re usually refering to LD50 or LC50 values ratio and it really isn't that X is more "toxic" than Y if they have the same mechanism of action, it's t hat X is more "potent" than Y. Whether paraoxon(e) is more potent t han parathion may depend on the species exposed. Insects convert pa rathion to the more potent paroxon(e) more rapidly than humans, and this is part of the basis for parathion's use an an insecticide.

Paraoxon(e) would most likely be found in the lab as a liquid with often an organic solvent base such as toluene, xylene, or kerosene, and it is (as are all organophosphate insecticides), extremely well aborbed throug h the skin. Proper skin PPE should be worn at all times. It can also be aerosolized in certain circumstances and is very well a bsorbed through the respiratory route as well, so consideration to respir atory protection and exhaust ventilation should be given.

If a researcher were to be exposed and absorb a sufficient quantity , the poisoning would be that of all of this class of agents: cho linergic poisoning from inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in synapses with both muscarinic effects (DUMBELS: Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis [pinpoint pupils], Bradycardia, Bronchorrhea, Bronchospasm, Emesis, Lacrimation, Salivation, Secretion, Sweating), nicotinic effects (Days-of-the Week: Mydriasis (large pupils), Tachycardia , Weakness, Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, Fasciculations), and the "3-Cs" of Central Nervous System effects (Confusion, Convulsions , Coma) as we teach it in the Advanced HAZMAT Life Support course (AHLS).

Hope this is useful.

Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
Medical Toxicologist
AHLS Provider and Instructor
ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com

Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:29:55 -0600
From: wendycampbell**At_Symbol_Here**BOISESTATE.E DU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Paraoxone?
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU

Has anyone ever worked with paraoxone? One of our folks was asking me q uestions about it, and I had a little information from some of my referen ce materials, but no practical knowledge. One of the big question s was in regards to toxicity - the group found conflicting MSDSs which stat ed alternatively that it's not a hazard at all versus it's a horribly toxic hazard. Then someone else added to the confusion by telling them i t's "1,000 times more toxic than parathion," which I couldn't find any data to support. I'd like to be able to tell them what the real ris ks and hazards would be if they decided to go ahead with their project.&nbs p;

Thanks,
Wendy

--
W endy Campbell, CSP
Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Environme ntal Health and Safety
Boise State University
1910 University Drive< BR>Boise, Idaho 83725-1826
Office: (208) 426-3303
Fax: (208 ) 426-3343

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