Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
rabbits when 500mg of methanol was applied under occluded condi-
tions for 24 hours. The reaction was probably the result of defatting of
the skin seen with alcohols in general. In another study, methanol
(amount not given) was nonirritating when applied under occluded
conditions for 30 hours (MAK, 1991).
4.3.2 Eye
Methanol caused minor to moderate eye irritation in rabbits (Carpenter
and Smyth, 1946).
In three other studies conducted under OECD guideline, methanol
was slightly to moderately irritating to rabbit eye. In another test, no eye
irritation was recorded in rabbit eye treated with 50mg (MAK, 1991).
4.4 SENSITIZATION
Methanol was not a sensitizer when tested in modified Magnusson-
Kligman maximization guinea pig test (BASF, 1979; MAK, 1991).
4.5 REPEAT EXPOSURE—INHALATION
4.5.1 Non-Human Primates
In a pilot study to set doses for a larger subacute monkey inhalation
study, monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were exposed to methanol by
inhalation at 0, 3000, 5000, 7000, or 10,000 ppm (reduced to 5000-
6000 ppm at night) for 21 hours per day (NEDO, 1986, 1987).
Monkeys were exposed for 6 days at 7000 and 10,000 ppm, 14 days
at 5000 ppm, and 21 days at 3000 ppm. The design of this study is
somewhat unusual for an inhalation study with nearly continuous
exposure rather than the normal 6 hour per day for 5 days per week
used in most inhalation studies. This design offers much less recovery
time per day than the normal inhalation study and is used in all NEDO
study where nearly continuous exposure was the condition desired
by the experimental design.
