Measuring Liquid Sulfur Mustard Recovery to Characterize a Weanling Swine Skin Short-Term Exposure Model

ABSTRACT

Sulfur mustard [bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide, SM] is a chemical warfare agent that penetrates the skin and causes extensive blistering. A weanling swine model was previously developed to evaluate wound healing associated with SM-induced cutaneous injuries. This study was performed to characterize short-term liquid SM exposures using this weanling swine skin model by measuring SM recovery from dosing templates and associated components. Female Yorkshire crossbred swine were exposed cutaneously to approximately 467 mg SM for 15, 20, and 25 seconds as well as for 4, 5, 6, and 7 minutes. At the end of each time period, the dosing template and associated components were removed, the skin was immediately wiped, and the amount of SM present in the dosing template, polytetrafuloroethylene (PTFE) disc, rubber stopper, and towel wipe was measured. The mean total SM extracted from the dosing template, PTFE disc, rubber stopper, and towel wipe decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) over the observed time period with the majority (>99%) of the SM recovered from the dosing template. Significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) amounts of SM were extracted from the PTFE disc over time, whereas a significant time-dependent decrease in SM was extracted from the towel wipes. These results showed significant decreases in total SM recovered from the dosing templates and associated components over the observed time period. The data from this study provide further insight into using the weanling swine skin model for short-term liquid SM exposures. Ultimately, this information may help determine the appropriate length of cutaneous SM exposure resulting in consistent, uniform injuries for evaluating the efficacy of newly developed and existing treatment regimens for SM-induced skin injury.

Keywords :

• Sulfur mustard
• Skin
• Porcine

Notes

The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other documentation. In conducting research using animals, the investigator(s) adhered to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council (National Academy Press, 1996).