1972). Brit. J. industr. Med., 29,[298][299][300][301][302][303][304][305][306]. Acute effects of exposure to orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) and the development of tolerance. Of the many compounds capable of producing irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract two, co-chloroacetophenone and orthochlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS), have been used as riot control agents. The latter, CS, has been in use for more than 10 years and is currently still in service. When dispersed as a smoke consisting of 1-micron diameter particles CS will produce lachrymation and pain and discomfort in the upper respiratory tract and chest. Exposed individuals become apprehensive and highly motivated to escape from the smoke. Recovery from these effects occurs within minutes of the affected individual reaching fresh air.The present study reports the effects produced by CS aerosol on 35 healthy male volunteers who were exposed in such a way that the total dose of the agent received by each man was greater than that which he might have received in an actual riot; this was achieved by taking advantage of the fact that adaptation to the effects of CS occurs if exposure is gradual and to low concentrations. In addition to the clinical observations, cardiological, respiratory, and biochemical observations were made. No abnormalities were observed in the electrocardiogram, respiratory function tests or the blood biochemistry and cell constitution. Such changes that were observed could be ascribed to the emotional stress and discomfort of the experiment.Many compounds, when disseminated as vapour or aerosol, are capable of producing, in man, irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract; two in particular, co-chloroacetophenone (CN) and 0-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS), are highly potent and specific in producing these effects and for this reason have been utilized as the active ingredient of tear smoke.
Several species of animal were given single doses of CS, dissolved in polyethylene glycol 300, by stomach tube and their stools subsequently examined for consistency. Wet stool production was seen infrequently, and occurred in both CS-treated animals and controls receiving the solvent alone. In another group of animals given 5 consecutive daily doses of CS by stomach tube, only 4 out of 21 animals had minimal lesions of the gastric mucosa, but there was no evidence of an irritant effect on the intestine. Furthermore, the repeated dosing of animals with CS did not cause detectable lesions in lung, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, or adrenal gland. In a series of inhalation experiments, rabbits exposed to thermally-generated CS did not show any evidence of an increase in the amount of material defaecated or its water content. There is no evidence from the experiments reported here that exposure to CS smokes can cause a diarrhoea-like condition; this is discussed.
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