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2251169 
Journal Article 
Observations on the Toxic Effects of Cordite 
Weiner, JS; Thomson, ML 
1947 
Yes 
British Journal of Industrial Medicine
ISSN: 0007-1072 
NIOSH/00131904 
4 
205-215 
Toxic effects of cordite (12751030) was studied in humans. Cases of cordite were stacked in a room where healthy adult male subjects opened the cases and carried the cordite charges to a rack. Weight, pulse, chest X-ray, body fluids, blood pressure, fitness index, and subjective reaction measurements were made at the beginning and end of each 3 hour trial. Atmosphere of the room was sampled. The average nitrogen-dioxide (10102440) concentration was 0.00032 percent at 63 to 73 degrees-F (cold trial) and 0.00015 percent at 84 to 92 degrees-F (hot trial). For carbon-monoxide (630080), these values were 0.0011 and 0.00057 percent, respectively. The proportion of subjects showing headaches after the first day was 10 of 12 in cold trials and 7 of 12 in hot trials. Fitness declined significantly during hot trials. Rectal temperatures, weight, or chest X-rays did not change after cordite exposures. Experiments in which some workers wore protective rubber clothing showed no significant protection, indicating that the main mode of cordite exposure was by inhalation. The authors conclude that at high temperatures, work efficiency during cordite exposure is reduced, and symptoms observed are those of nitroglycerine (55630) poisoning.