Technical Report
The toxicology of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) solutions in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), cyclohexanone, and acetone
U.S. Army :: U.S. Army
Edgewood Arsenal, Department of the Army
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
AD780010. CBRNIAC-CB-148341. EB-TR-73040. CPIAC-1975-0806
A study of the toxicology of the explosives cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) in acetone, cyclohexanone, and pure and technical grade dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was initiated to establish whether there is any danger to plant personnel that handle such mixtures. This report contains a review of the existing literature on each explosive and on each solvent. It also describes tests that were conducted to establish the intravenous toxicity of the explosives in DMSO, the skin effects, the pharmacological effects, the sensitization potential and the ocular effects of the explosives in each solvent. In mice, the intravenous LD50 for RDX in DMSO is 18.7 mg/kg and for HDX in DMSO in 28.9 mg/kg. In guinea pigs, the intravenous LD50 for RDX in DMSO is 25.1 mg/kg and for HDX in DMSO is 28.2 mg/kg. The LD50’s of RDX and HMX in other solvents were not established. RDX and HMX in the three solvents did not penetrate the skin, as evidenced by the lack of physiological responses in dogs and unchanged blood component values in rabbits. From the intravenous studies in dogs, it was shown that acetone and cyclohexanone alone exert a depressant effect on the cardiovascular system. Cyclohexanone also causes changes in the electroencephalogram pattern and produces a semicomatose to comatose condition. DMSO had relatively little effect. Therefore, the majority of these studies were done with the explosives in DMSO. It was found that the immediate effects of RDX and HDX differ, RDX affecting the CNS immediately and HDX producing a circulatory collapse initially, with delayed CNS disturbances. Topically and intradermally applied RDX and HDX in the three solvents did not produce usually any greater skin damage than the solvents alone, but there were several exceptions. Repeated topical applications caused dermatitis without fissures, eschars, or scabs, but intradermal injection caused severe skin damage. Topical or intradermal application of the solvents or of RDX and HMX in the solvents 3 days a week for 3 weeks, followed in 2 weeks by topical or intradermal challenge, gave no evidence of sensitixzation. Ocular administration showed that RDX and HMX are no more damaging than the solvents alone, but the solvents themselves cause cataracts in guinea pigs. From these studies, it is evident that strict precautions should be taken to avoid skin and ocular contact with HMX and RDX in the solvents studied.
explosives, rdx, hmx, industrial medicine, toxicology, experimental data, sulfoxides, eye, skin(anatomy), cyclohexanones, laboratory animals, bioassay, pharmacology, acetones, exposure(physiology), solvents, sensitivity, methyl sulfoxide, toxic hazards