Maritime spat is mild irritant to India-US ties

Headline INDIA/US: Maritime spat is mild irritant to ties

TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF BENZOPHENONE AS A BASIS OF ITS HYGIENIC NORMALIZATION IN THE AIR OF THE WORKING ZONE

For the purpose of hygienic rationing of benzophenone in the air of the working zone its toxic properties have been studied. DL50 for male rats, male and female mice amounted to 3000, 2000 and 1300 mg/kg, respectively. Benzophenone refers to moderately hazardous substances (hazard class III). The clinical picture of the acute poisoning with this substance was characterized by the low mobility, myorelaxation, shaky gait, breathing loss, weakened response to external stimuli and death on days 1 to 3 after the poisoning. There were no significant differences in the species and gender susceptibility of animals to the substance: coefficients of species differences and gender susceptibility ≈1.5. Benzophenone has an average cumulative capacity: a cumulation factor accounts for 3.2. It does not have a local irritant effect on the skin and skin-resorptive effect. It has a mild irritant effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes. There was no sensitizing effect in benzophenone: the specific leukocyte lysis reaction, the specific agglomeration of leukocytes and the eosinophil content in the blood of the experimental guinea pigs did not differ significantly from the control. After single 4-hour inhalation primers of benzophenone at concentrations of 35.2, 94.6 and 200 mg/m3, there were no violations of the synthetic and enzymatic functions of the liver. The threshold of acute inhalation action is 94.6 mg/ m3 (for decreasing body temperature, increasing the summation threshold and leukocytosis). Approximate safe level of exposure to benzophenone in the air in the working area is 2 mg/m3 (aerosol).

2,2’-Oxydiethanol Determination in workplace air

2,2’-Oxydiethanol (DEG) is a colorless and oily liquid. 2,2’-Oxydiethanol is a by-product of ethylene glycol production. 2,2’-Oxydiethanol is used in the production of unsaturated polyester resins, plasticizers, acrylate and methacrylate resins, and urethanes. 2,2’-Oxydiethanol is a mild irritant. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining concentrations of 2,2’-Oxydiethanol (inhalable fraction) in workplace air in the range from 1/10 to 2 MAC values. The study was performed using a gas chromatograph (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) equipped with a capillary column Stabilwax (60 m × 0.32 mm, 0.5 μm). This method is based on the adsorption of 2,2’-oxydiethanol on a polypropylene filter, extraction with methanol and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The masurement range was from 1 to 20 mg/m3 for a 720-L air sample. Validation of the method was performed in accordance with Standard No. EN 482. The following validation parameters were determined: detection limit – 0.5 μg/ml, determination limit – 1.5 μg/ml, the overall accuracy of the method – 5.25%, the relative total uncertainty of the method – 11.5%. This analytical method enables selective determination of 2,2’-Oxydiethanol in workplace air in the presence of other alcohols at concentrations from 1 mg/m³ (1/10 MAC value). The method is precise, accurate and it meets the criteria for procedures for measuring chemical agents listed in Standard No. EN 482. The developed method of determining 2,2’-oxydiethanol has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see appendix).

Preliminary observations of dingo responses to assumed aversive stimuli

Occasionally, interactions between dingoes (Canis dingo) and people on Fraser Island result in serious injury, and, in one case, death. The risk to human safety from such interactions may be mitigated if people could carry a suitably defensive repellent, similar in principle to bear (Ursus spp.) repellent spray advocated in North America. In the first step towards searching for suitable stimuli that might be used as repellents with dingoes, we observed the responses of nine dingoes to three stimuli during interactions with a researcher on Fraser Island. Two treatment stimuli were assumed to be potentially aversive (an air horn blast and a water jet from a motorised water pistol), and one was considered unlikely to be aversive and therefore suitable as a control (a whistle being blown). Responses to the stimuli varied. All nine dingoes were initially presented with the whistle; however, only one adult male responded as if the whistle was aversive. Seven of the nine dingoes were later presented with a whistle and treatment stimuli together. None of the seven dingoes were repelled during any air horn treatment trials; however, six of seven dingoes (all juveniles) were repelled by the water pistol stimulus. Although a water pistol was effective at repelling young dingoes on many occasions, responses between individuals were inconsistent. Results from this pilot study suggest that a water pistol stimulus may offer some protection as a repellent to close approaches by young dingoes, particularly if enhanced with a mild irritant.

A CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF GUNJA SEEDS AS A LOCAL APPLICATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INDRALUPTA

'Indralupta’ or 'Alopecia areata' is mainly a cosmetic condition where we find a patchy loss of previously existing body hairs. When we go through different Ayurvedic texts lot of references are found indicating the use of poisonous drugs as an external application for various types of diseases & alopecia areata is a disease which requires a topical type of treatment. It is one of the common therapeutic problems which challenge the skill of the people working in the field of dermatology.Ayurveda accepts the utility of toxic substances in treating the diseases keeping in mind some medicinal properties hidden inside. A thorough literature research gave us the scope to expect some good results from a herbal irritant drug - 'Gunja'.The present study was carried out on 20 patients diagnosed with Indralupta. Lepa of fine powder of the seeds of Gunja was used for topical application two times per day for 56 days.The study shown that in 40% of cases complete reoccurrence of hair growth was noted where as 50% showed partial growth and 10% showed no change at all. According to the modern science the need of activation of the hair follicles through induction of mild irritant contact dermatitis is necessary in this disease for regeneration and growth of hair with its inherent properties, Gunjabeejalepa irritates the lesions with Tikshnaguna and Ushna Veerya and Tikta rasa. Combine these virtues act to irritate and activate the hair follicles thereby promoting hair growth of the affected part.

Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polyethylene1

Polyethylene is an ethylene polymer used for a variety of purposes in cosmetics as an abrasive, adhesive, binder or bulking agent, an emulsion stabilizer, a film former, an oral care agent, and as a nonaqueous viscosity-increasing agent. Polyethylene is also used in food packaging materials and medical products, including prosthetics. The molecular weight of Polyethylene as used in cosmetics varies over a wide range. The lowest reported molecular weight is 198 Daltons and the highest is 150,000. In any given polymer preparation, there can be a broad range of molecular weights. Cellular and tissue responses to Polyethylene, determined as part of implant biocompatibility testing, include fibrous connective tissue build-up around the implant material that varies as a function of the physical form of the implant material. Specific assays for osteoblast proliferation and collagen synthesis demonstrated a reduction as a function of exposure to Polyethylene particles that is inversely related to particle size. The effect of Polyurethane particles on monocyte-derived macrophages, however, had a stimulatory effect, prolonging the survival of these cells in culture. The LD50 for Polyethylene, with an average molecular weight of 450, in rats was > 2000 mg/kg. For Polyethylene with an average molecular weight of 655, the LD50 was > 5.0 g/kg. Toxicity testing in rats shows no adverse effects at Polyethylene (molecular weight not given) doses of 7.95 g/kg or at 1.25%, 2.50%, or 5.00% in feed for 90 days. Dermal irritation studies on rabbits in which 0.5 g of Polyethylene (average molecular weight of 450) was administered in 0.5ml of water caused no irritation or corrosive effects; Polyethylene with an average molecular weight of 655 was a mild irritant. Polyethylene (average molecular weight of 450) did not cause dermal sensitization in guinea pigs tested with 50% Polyethylene ( w/w ) in a rachis oil BP. Polyethylene, with a molecular weight of 450 and a molecular weight of 655, was a mild irritant when tested as a solid material in the eyes of rabbits. Rabbit eyes treated with a solution containing 13% Polyethylene beads produced minimal irritation and no corneal abrasions. No genotoxicity was found in bacterial assays. No chemical carcinogenicity has been seen in implantation studies, although particles from Polyethylene implants can induce so-called solid-state carcinogenicity, which is a physical reaction to an implanted material. Occupational case reports of ocular irritation and systemic sclerosis in workers exposed to Polyethylene have been difficult to interpret because such workers are also exposed to other irritants. Clinical testing of intrauterine devices made of Polyethylene failed to conclusively identify statistically significant adverse effects, although squamous metaplasia was observed. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel did not expect significant dermal absorption and systemic exposure to large Polyethylene polymers used in cosmetics. The Panel was concerned that information on impurities, including residual catalyst and reactants from the polymerization process, was not available. The Panel considered that the monomer unit in Polyethylene polymerization is ethylene. In the United States, ethylene is 99.9% pure. The other 0.1% includes ethane, propylene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur, hydrogen, acetylene, water, and oxygen. The Panel believed that the concentration of these impurities in any final polymer would be so low as to not raise toxicity issues. Safety tests of cosmetic-grade Polyethylene have consistently failed to identify any toxicity associated with residual catalyst. Although it was reported that one process used to cross-link Polyethylene with an organic peroxide, this process is not currently used. In addition, cosmetic-grade Polyethylene is not expected to contain toxic hexanes. The Panel was concerned that the only genotoxicity data available was nonmammalian, but taking this information in concert with the absence of any chemical car-cinogenicity in implant studies suggests no genotoxic mechanism for carcinogenicity. The solid-state carcinogenicity effect was not seen as relevant for Polyethylene as used in cosmetics. The available data support the conclusion that Polyethylene is safe for use in cosmetic formulations in the practices of use and concentrations described.