AMMONIUM SULFATE CAS N°: 7783-20-2

OECD SIDS
AMMONIUM SULFATE
5. TOXICITY ID: 7783-20-2
DATE: 18.04.2006
Type of experience: other: case-report of fatal intoxication
Result:
An 85-year-old woman (149 cm, 37.5 kg) was found dead lying
on the ground outside of her house in the middle of March.
There were no signs of struggle. A small amount of dried
vomitus was found around her mouth and on her face and a
beer can containing a small amount of a beer-like solution
was lying beside her. Examination of the solution from the
beer can at the police laboratory showed that it was very
likely ammonium sulfate. On the basis of the results from
the police laboratory analysis, her house was searched and
a bag of fertilizer labeled ammonium sulfate was found in
the barn.
External examination of the body showed no injury nor
abnormalities. Alcohol was not detected in the blood and no
toxicological substances, including pesticides, were
detected by a routine poison examination with TOXI-LAB.
Heart, lung, liver and kidney did not show any pathological
findings on macro- and microscopical examination. The lower
part of the esophagus mucosa was brownish and contained a
foamy fluid.
There was mild petechial hemorrhage in the fundic mucosa
without any erosion or corrosion. the stomach contained
mostly fluid with pH of 7.0 and tiny bubbles. The autopsy
could not determine the definite cause of death and it was
assumed that she froze to death.
In serum, ammonium and sulfate ions were significantly
increased (25,000 ug ammonium/dL, 12 mEq sulfate/L; normal
values: < 30-80 ug/dL for ammonium, < 0.25-0.35 mEq/L for
sulfate). Also, ammonium sulfate was detected in the
gastric contents.
It was concluded, that the cause of death was acute
intoxication due to ingesting ammonium sulfate dissolved in
beer for the purpose of committing suicide.
Reliability:
(1) valid without restriction
Flag:
Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12-APR-2006 (105)
Type of experience: other: controlled study
Result:
Reliability:
214
Pulmonary function (body plethysmography and spirometry)
and bronchial reactivity (to metacholine) was not affected
in 20 non-smoking subjects after a 4-hour exposure of 528
+/- 39 µg/m3 ammonium sulfate aerosol. The exposure period
included two 15-minute light to moderate exercise stints
per day in the exposure chamber. The subjects served as
their own control and breathed clear air on one day before
and one day after the exposure to ammonium sulfate.
Method: environmentally controlled chamber with a
ventilation rate 8.49 m3/min enable complete air change
every 2.6 min; mass median diameter (MMD) for the sulfate
aerosol was 0.97 +/- 0.05 µm. Measure of response: FVC,
FEV1, and FEV3 were manually calculated from the spirogram;
air way resistance(Raw) and volume of thoracic gas (Vtg)
were determined by the whole-body pressure plethysmographic
technique of Dubois; methacholine challenge was performed
according to the method of Chai.
(2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation, no information on purity
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