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Sodium fluoride
Information Section---Fd Chem. Toxic. Vol. 31, No. 12 in culture with this aromatic tertiary amine. In rats given 4 mmol/kg body weight by stomach tube or ip injection, DNA damage in the liver was reported (Taningher etal., Mutation Research 1993, 301, 275). Diethyl ether An aqueous extract of this commonly used solvent was mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium bacteria in Ames tests without added metabolic activation. Analysis suggested that contaminant peroxides (including hydrogen peroxide, 1-ethoxyethyl- hydroperoxide and possibly bis(1-hydroxyethyl)- peroxide and 1,1bishydroperoxy diethyl ether) were responsible. The investigators considered that "adverse effects observed in vitro and in vivo with chemicals containing ether linkages may actually have been caused by contaminant peroxides and reactive oxygen compounds" (Chen et al., Mutation Research 1993, 287, 227).
Cutting fluid Allergic contact dermatitis developed in six Swedish workers after using a cutting fluid containing a fatty acid ester described as "a blend of the reaction product of epoxidized soya oil with the polyethylene-glycol 600 half ester of C21 dicarboxylic acids and the diethanolamide of C2~ dicarboxylic acids", also known as EM-550. Patch tests (generally using 0.05% aqueous solution or 0.25% in petrolatum) confirmed the allergies. One patient reacted to an aqueous solution as low as 0.005% (Niklasson et al., Contact Dermatitis 1993, 28, 265). Calcium silicate Increased frequencies of chromosomal damage (gaps and breaks) and sister chromatid exchanges were found in human white blood cells treated with calcium silicate (Aslam & Rahman, Mutation Research 1993, 300, 45).
Styrene Increased DNA damage (breaks) was observed in the white blood cells of 16 workers exposed to low levels of styrene at a Swedish plastics factory. Mean exposure over the 8-hr work shift was 7 ppm (range 0.04 to 20 ppm). Analysis of the individual data suggested that DNA damage would be approximately doubled after 8 hr exposure to just 18 ppm. The current UK maximum exposure limit (8-hr TWA) is 100 ppm (Walles et al., British Journal of lndustrial Medicine 1993, 50, 570). Zirconium The allergic granulomatous inflammation that developed in a woman after using a roll-on antiperspirant was thought to be due to its aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycerine component. She had been using the antiperspirant for around 2 yr before the
1043
inflamed mass developed in one armpit (Skelton et al., Journal o f the AmericanA cademy of Dermatology 1993, 7.,8, 874). Tweeu 80 Effects on the reproductive system and organs occurred in female rats injected ip on days 4-7 of age with 0.1 ml of 1, 5 or 10% aqueous solutions (approximately 3, 15 or 30 mg/kg body weight/day) of this detergent. Advanced vaginal opening was noted and the oestrus cycle was lengthened to 8.8-14 days, compared with an average of 4.3 days for untreated controls. Decreased uterine and ovary weights were observed and there was evidence that the uterus was in a chronically stimulated state (Gajdov~t et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology 1993, 31, 183).
Sodium fluoride An 8-yr-old girl developed a skin rash and swelling of the face and required hospitalization, after application to her teeth of a product containing "50 mg sodium fluoride in an alcoholic solution of neutral resins". Two previous applications had been made in the preceding 11 months. Patch testing (generally involving 24/48-hr covered contact) to the commercial product gave a mild positive reaction. While no patch tests to sodium fluoride alone were conducted, the patient had a history of intolerance to some fluoride toothpastes. The investigators noted that "the clinical features and patch test results do not allow a distinction to be made between immunological and non-immunological contact urticaria", but concluded that "in some atopic patients painting the teeth with sodium fluoride can lead to severe and potentially dangerous reactions" (Camarasa et al., Contact Dermatitis 1993, 28, 294) Safety factors A workshop organized by ILSI discussed the safety factor used in the derivation of ADIs or TDIs for man (Kroes et al., Food Additives and Contaminants 1993, 10, 269). Dr A.G. Renwick, from the University of Southampton, described his ideas for a data-derived safety factor, sub-dividing the traditional 100-fold factor to allow for the toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic aspects of inter-species and inter-individual difference (Renwick, ibid 1993, 10, 275). The principles of the Renwick ideas are presented in a number of case studies involvingbutylated hydroxyanisole (Wfirtzen, ibid 1993, 10, 307), erythrosine (Poulsen, ibid 1993,10, 315), lead (Carrington et al., ibid 1993, 10, 325), saccharin (Renwick, ibid 1993, 10, 337), bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (Pennincks, ibid 1993, 10, 351) and di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (Morgenroth, ibid 1993, 10, 363).
[Philip Copestake - - BIBRA]
Cutting fluid Allergic contact dermatitis developed in six Swedish workers after using a cutting fluid containing a fatty acid ester described as "a blend of the reaction product of epoxidized soya oil with the polyethylene-glycol 600 half ester of C21 dicarboxylic acids and the diethanolamide of C2~ dicarboxylic acids", also known as EM-550. Patch tests (generally using 0.05% aqueous solution or 0.25% in petrolatum) confirmed the allergies. One patient reacted to an aqueous solution as low as 0.005% (Niklasson et al., Contact Dermatitis 1993, 28, 265). Calcium silicate Increased frequencies of chromosomal damage (gaps and breaks) and sister chromatid exchanges were found in human white blood cells treated with calcium silicate (Aslam & Rahman, Mutation Research 1993, 300, 45).
Styrene Increased DNA damage (breaks) was observed in the white blood cells of 16 workers exposed to low levels of styrene at a Swedish plastics factory. Mean exposure over the 8-hr work shift was 7 ppm (range 0.04 to 20 ppm). Analysis of the individual data suggested that DNA damage would be approximately doubled after 8 hr exposure to just 18 ppm. The current UK maximum exposure limit (8-hr TWA) is 100 ppm (Walles et al., British Journal of lndustrial Medicine 1993, 50, 570). Zirconium The allergic granulomatous inflammation that developed in a woman after using a roll-on antiperspirant was thought to be due to its aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycerine component. She had been using the antiperspirant for around 2 yr before the
1043
inflamed mass developed in one armpit (Skelton et al., Journal o f the AmericanA cademy of Dermatology 1993, 7.,8, 874). Tweeu 80 Effects on the reproductive system and organs occurred in female rats injected ip on days 4-7 of age with 0.1 ml of 1, 5 or 10% aqueous solutions (approximately 3, 15 or 30 mg/kg body weight/day) of this detergent. Advanced vaginal opening was noted and the oestrus cycle was lengthened to 8.8-14 days, compared with an average of 4.3 days for untreated controls. Decreased uterine and ovary weights were observed and there was evidence that the uterus was in a chronically stimulated state (Gajdov~t et al., Food and Chemical Toxicology 1993, 31, 183).
Sodium fluoride An 8-yr-old girl developed a skin rash and swelling of the face and required hospitalization, after application to her teeth of a product containing "50 mg sodium fluoride in an alcoholic solution of neutral resins". Two previous applications had been made in the preceding 11 months. Patch testing (generally involving 24/48-hr covered contact) to the commercial product gave a mild positive reaction. While no patch tests to sodium fluoride alone were conducted, the patient had a history of intolerance to some fluoride toothpastes. The investigators noted that "the clinical features and patch test results do not allow a distinction to be made between immunological and non-immunological contact urticaria", but concluded that "in some atopic patients painting the teeth with sodium fluoride can lead to severe and potentially dangerous reactions" (Camarasa et al., Contact Dermatitis 1993, 28, 294) Safety factors A workshop organized by ILSI discussed the safety factor used in the derivation of ADIs or TDIs for man (Kroes et al., Food Additives and Contaminants 1993, 10, 269). Dr A.G. Renwick, from the University of Southampton, described his ideas for a data-derived safety factor, sub-dividing the traditional 100-fold factor to allow for the toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic aspects of inter-species and inter-individual difference (Renwick, ibid 1993, 10, 275). The principles of the Renwick ideas are presented in a number of case studies involvingbutylated hydroxyanisole (Wfirtzen, ibid 1993, 10, 307), erythrosine (Poulsen, ibid 1993,10, 315), lead (Carrington et al., ibid 1993, 10, 325), saccharin (Renwick, ibid 1993, 10, 337), bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (Pennincks, ibid 1993, 10, 351) and di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (Morgenroth, ibid 1993, 10, 363).
[Philip Copestake - - BIBRA]