DECONTAMINATION OF RAT SKIN AFTER EXPOSURE TO THICKENED SOMAN

These studies review the efficacy of decontamination and parenteral antidotal treatment with oxime [[[(4-aminocarbonyl)-pyridine] methoxyl methyl]-2-[(hydroxyimino)-methyl]-pyridinium dichloride (HI-6), atropine, and diazepam, administered singly and simultaneously, in rats percutaneously poisoned with standard and thickened soman in different concentrations. Parenteral application of antidotes was quite effective, regardless of soman formulation, with protective ratio ranging between 4.2 and 4.8. Decontamination with alcoholate was, however, satisfactory only in thickened soman formulations, and somewhat more effective than antidotal therapy. Combined procedure produced potentiation of effects in poisoning by standard soman. Intoxication with thickened compounds produced only simple addition of the effects. Therefore, the described therapeutic approach is absolutely necessary in percutaneous poisoning with highly toxic organophosphates.