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Iz-u.atr-.ii Hygiene Digest February, 19S6 choliaeitirui, causing toxic accumulations of acetylcholine, with effect* resembling muscarine and nicotine poisoning. Intoxication ia identified la the tiring patient by a characteristic chain of sign* sad symptoms, including fixed, contracted pupils. Labora tory tests show solely a depression of the cholinesterase levels, and this la also the sole diagnostic sign at autopsy. The industrial worker, the physician, and the forensic investi gator should ail be conversant with the prevention, recognition, and treatment of intoxica tions from these valuable but potent agricultural chemical weapons. -- Author's conclusion Z37 The Vapor Toxicity of * Composite Solvent and Its Principal Compounds. C. W. La-Belle < H. flrieger. Arch. Ind. Health 1Z, 6Zi-bZ7 (Dec. 1955). The literature on the toxicity of mixed solvents is reviewed. The solvent Investi gated consisted of methylethylketone (55. 7% ), propylene formal, 1, 3-amyleae oxide, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl acetal, l, 3-butylene oxide, propylene acetal, and acetone. The tox icity of the mixed solvent was compared with that of each of the principal constituents (omit ting the last three), in snlmal experiments. Both the mixed vapor and the component vapors have tho same qualitative effect of anoatheela and narcosis, hot quantitatively the components differ substantially la toxicity. The acute toxicity of the mixed vapor agrees within lOf, with the geometric mean Of the component toxicitiea weighted by their respective proportion* in the mixture. This is not sufficient to prove synergistic or antagonistic effects of the compon ents. The acute toxicity of tho mixed vapor is close to that of methylethylketone. This study has demonstrated a method for determining the vapor toxicity of a composite solvent in rela tion to the vapor toxicitiea of its camponants. Z38 The Toxicity of Certain Polymers with Particular Reference to the Products of Their Thermal Decomposition. J. F, Treon, F. P. Cleveland, J. Cappei. and E. E. Larson. Wright Air Development Center Tech. Rapt. 54-301. &0 pp. (1954). The toxicity of Teflon, Kel-F, Silicones DC-701 and DC-ZOO and Fluorolnbe F. S. and their decomposition products was investigated; The polymers themselves wore found to bo harmless to animals on a single oral does and on skin contact. In general, animals tolerated repeated exposure to the mist of all these substances in the air at given concen trations. Inhalation of the mists of either of the silicones or of Fluorohxbe F.S.. Induced moderate degenerative changes in the livers of cats or guinea pigs. Their remaining vis cera and all the viscera of the animals of other epedes were normal except for an Increased evidence of pneumonitis. The maximum tolerable dose for animals exposed to the decompo sition products ef the substances under investigation (or various periods of time are given. -- Cond. from Chem. Abets, Z39 The Toxicity of Certain Lnbricsnts, Engine Oils, and Certain of Their Constituents with Particular Reference to the Products of Their Thermal Decomposition. J. F. Treon, F. P. Cleveland, and J. CappaL Weight Air Development Center Teek, Rept. 54-344. 83 pp. (1954). Tha toxicity of certain constituents of lubricants and engine oils was investigated. They included bis(Z-ethylhexyl) sebacate, di-aec-amyl tebacate, and bia (2-ethylhexyl) adipate, also' formulation* used la practice containing one or more ef those constituents and small quantities of other substances. They were found to be slightly toxic or noatoxic to animals on tingle oral *drain! Stratton. They were practically nontoxic on aldn applica tion. High, concentration* of tho mists of these substances were generally tolerated without untoward react!on*. Toxic compounds are produced, however, by the thermal decomposi tion of these materials at 700*F. Extensive data are given on the inhalation toxicitiea of the various materials. Lowest lethal doses and maximum tolerable dosee-were of the order of magnitude of 0. Z to 4 mg. per liter of air. -- Cond. from Chem. Abets. 11 2M 1378 19.