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Fluomine is a cobalt chelate compound which complexes molecular oxygen and releases it on heating. This property has led to its use a a regenerable oxygen source in high-altitude aircraft. Investigations into the acute effects of exposure to fluomine by various routes were undertaken as first steps in the toxicological characterization of the material. Single-dose rat and mouse oral administration led to LD50 values of 123 mg/kg for male CF1 mice and 187 mg/kg for male Sprague-Dawley rats. The LC50 values for single four-hour inhalation periods varied from 112 mg/m3 for male rats to 416 mg/m3 for male mice. Fluomine proved to be highly irritating when instilled in the eyes of rabbits and to the lungs of rats on inhalation. Exposure of rabbit skin to the compound demonstrated moderate irritancy particularly in areas of abrasion. Positive reactions to intradermal challenge were demonstrated after both intradermal and inhalation sensitization of guinea pigs.

Chlorine pentafluoride (CIF5) is of interest owing to its use as a fluorinated oxidizing propellant for rocket engines. Since toxicity information on this compound is inadequate, especially regarding its inhalation hazard, rats, mice, dogs, and monkeys were exposed to various measured concentrations of C1F5 to determine the 15-, 30-, and 60-minute LC50 for each species. All animals were observed for visible sypmtomaitology and mortality both during exposure and for 14 days postexposure. The LC50 values (in ppm) for rats were 257, 194, and 122; for mice 144, 105, and 57; for dogs 298, 156, and 122; and for monkeys 249, 218, and 173, for 15-, 30-, and 60-minute exposures, respectively. The respiratory tract was the primary target for CIF5 damage in all four species, and mortality due to C1F5 exposure was related to its adverse respiratory effects. The LC50 information from this study was compared with LC50's obtained for other fluorinated oxidizers and HF. Chlorine pentafluoride was less toxic than OF2, but...

Rats, mice, beagle dogs, squirrel monkeys, and rhesus monkeys were exposed to various measured concentrations of monomethylhydrazine (MMH) vapor for specified time periods. Rodents were exposed for 30-, 60-, 120-, and 240-minute periods; dogs and squirrel monkeys, for 15, 30 and 60 minutes; and rhesus monkeys for 60 minutes only. The toxicity of MMH for the five animal species was defined by determinations of LC50 values, pathology, observations of responses, measurements of body weight in rats and mice, and blood chemistry and hematology tests on dogs, and rhesus monkeys. Squirrel monkeys proved to be the most sensitive and rats the least sensitive to the lethal effects of MMH. MMH exposure produced definite but transient, hemolytic changes in dogs and, to a lesser extent, in rhesus monkeys. These experiments show MMH to be a highly toxic compound.

The inhalation toxicities (14-day LC50 values for 15-minute exposures) of the pyrolysis products of two fire extinguisher compounds, CH2BrCl and CBrF3, were determined for albino rats. Both compounds, currently used by the USAF for aircraft fires, were pyrolyzed at 800°C in hydrogen-oxygen flame. The principal constituents of the pyrolysis products were identified and quantitated. The determined LC50 value of 2300 ppm for pyrolyzed CBrF3 produced a hydrogen fluoride concentration of 2480 ppm consistent with the reported LC50 value for a single 15-minute exposure to this gas. The pyrolysis products generated from a concentration of 465 ppm of CH2BrCl killed 50% of rats exposed for 15 minutes. The toxic response producing this LC50 value appeared to result from a mixture of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and bromine gases.

Fluomine is a cobalt chelate of interest in life support systems of high altitude aircraft. Rats, mice, guinea pigs and dogs were exposed to fluomine particles for a six month period on an industrial-type schedule. Chronic exposure of the dust caused a statistically significant decrease in the mean body weights of the test rats when compared to their respective control group. The dust had irritative effects on the respiratory systems of rats and dogs at the highest exposure level. A concentration of 0.1 mg/m3 is a suggested threshold limit at or below which no serious effects should occur.