VX Percutaneous Studies in Man

The effect of percutaneous administration of VX on 103 subjects using 50, 100, 200 mu aerosol particles, single and multiple drops, was studied. VX as neat agent, in doses from 5 to 35 microgramkg, was applied to the skin of right volar forearm, or hand, or neck. VX combined in a 11 mixture with each of the three amines n-octylamine, n-decylamine, or n-dodecylamine was used with total VX doses of 10 to 20 microgramkg. It was found that both neat agent and agent-amine mixtures decreased the electrical resistance of the skin. One-to-one mixtures of n-octylamine or n-decylamine with 20 microgramkg of VX were about as effective as 35 microgramkg of neat agent. Twenty-five of 68 subjects who received either neat agent in doses of 20 to 35 microgramkg or amine-agent mixtures containing doses of 20 microgramkg of VX developed clinical signs and symptoms of anticholinesterase poisoning. The results from this study are of preliminary nature, therefore, conclusions cannot be drawn at this time.