rhodamine WT

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Rhodamine WT a fluorescent, xanthene dye, has long been used as a hydrologic tracer in surface water systems. HUMAN STUDIES: There are no data available. ANIMAL STUDIES: Rhodamine WT is reported to be a skin and eye irritant. Mammalian toxicity data available indicated a low to moderate acute injection toxicity in the mouse. Rhodamine WT produced mutations in the Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test), and was a weak inducer of chromosomal effects and DNA damage in cultured mammalian cells. No chromosomal damage or sperm abnormalities were seen in mice treated by intraperitoneal injection. ECOTOXICITY STUDIES: There was no aquatic toxicity detected for Rhodamine WT in oyster eggs, silver salmon and Donaldson trout.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Because of the toxicity to oyster larvae and eggs of rhodamine B dye in concentrations >1 mg/L in earlier tests, there was a concern that rhodamine WT, a similar tracer dye, would have a detrimental effect on marine life being developed under the aquaculture program of the Lummi Indian Tribe near Bellingham, Wash. Tests showed that 48-hour exposures at 24 °C of 11,000 oyster eggs per liter and 6,000 12-day-old larvae per liter, in sea water with concentrations of rhodamine WT ranging from 1 ug/L to 10 mg/L, resulted in development of the eggs to normal straight-hinge larvae and no abnormalities in the larvae development. Tests made on the smolt of both silver salmon and Donaldson trout, with the fish held for 17.5 hours in a tankfull of sea water with a dye concentration of 10 mg/L at 22 °C showed no mortalities or respiratory problems. With the concentration increased to 375 mg/L, and the time extended an additional 3.2 hours, still no mortalities or abnormalities were noted. The fish remained healthy in dye-free water when last checked a month after the test.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ The only mammalian toxicity data available indicated a low to moderate acute injection toxicity in the mouse. Rhodamine WT is reported to be a skin and eye irritant.

/GENOTOXICITY/ Rhodamine WT produced mutations in the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test), and was a weak inducer of chromosomal effects and DNA damage in cultured mammalian cells. No chromosomal damage or sperm abnormalities were seen in mice treated by intraperitoneal injection.

/GENOTOXICITY/ Rhodamine WT, a xanthene dye used in the tracing of pollutants in water and in related studies, was tested for its mutagenicity in a battery of in vitro and in vivo mammalian assays. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells in the absence of metabolic activation mix, small dose-related increases in cytotoxicity, DNA damage (as detected by alkaline sucrose-gradient sedimentation) and sister-chromatid exchanges were detected, but an increase in the level of chromosomal damage was not seen. In the presence of metabolic activation a small, but statistically significant dose-related increase in sister-chromatid exchanges was evident, with no increase in cytotoxicity, DNA damage or chromosome aberrations. Furthermore, no increase in bone marrow micronuclei or sperm abnormalities was observed in male B6C3F1 mice. The data from all these mammalian assays, although involving different end-points, are in contrast to the mutagenic effects previously seen in Salmonella.

/SRP:/ Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR if necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Poisons A and B/

/SRP:/ Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poisons A and B/

/SRP:/ Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Consider administering a beta agonist such as albuterol for severe bronchospasm ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W TKO /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poisons A and B/

First aid: Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Skin: Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Eyes: First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention. Ingestion: Rinse mouth.