Dermal Irritancy of Metal Compounds

Abstract

Dermal irritancy of 14 materials, including several compounds of palladium, platinum and lead, and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, plus deionized water (negative control) and glacial acetic acid (positive control), was tested on male albino rabbits weighing 2 to 3 kg. Procedures and evaluation criteria were adopted from those in use by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Five materials were evaluated as unsafe for intact or abraded skin contact as judged by severity of responses: glacial acetic acid (C3H5PDCl)2, (NH4)2PdCl4, (NH4)2PdCl6, and PtCl4; one as safe for intact, but not for abraded, skin: K2PdCl6; and two as safe for intact skin but not for abraded skin unless protected: K2PdCl4 and PdCl2. The remainder were evaluated as safe for intact or abraded skin contact (irritancy grade less than 1 on a scale of 4): H2O, Pd(NH3)2Cl2, PdO, PtO2, PtCl2, PbCl2, PbO, MMT.