Biological fate of sulphur mustard (1,1'-thiobis(2-chloroethane)): uptake, distribution and retention of 35S in skin and in blood after cutaneous application of 35S-sulphur mustard in rat and comparison with human blood in vitro.

1. During the 6-h occluded cutaneous application of 35S-sulphur mustard vapour to rat, most of the dose, approximately 75%, passed through the skin and was systemically-distributed. Up to 25% of the 35S was retained in the skin, up to 30% was excreted in the urine and 5-8% was present in the blood, by the end of the application. 2. 35S initially declined rapidly in skin and then more slowly with a half-life of approximately 7.4 days. Some of the early loss was as sulphur mustard vapour from a possible depot of this compound which was larger with increase in dose. There was some apparent continuing uptake from such a depot into the systemic circulation. 3. The decline of 35S in blood was much slower than that from skin. About one-fifth of the original post-exposure level in the blood still present 6 weeks later. 4. The 35S in blood was mainly in the red cell contents as reaction products of haemoglobin with sulphur mustard. Its persistence in the systemic circulation, after an initial rapid decline due to its removal from the plasma, reflected the 65 day life span of these cells. Significant levels of 35S were found in the plasma only for a few days (t1/2 = 2.4 days). 5. Uptake and subsequent distribution of 35S in rat and human blood in vitro during gradual exposure to 35S-sulphur mustard using a novel method were similar. 35S in the red cells was associated mainly with the haemoglobin protein, but slightly greater binding with human, rather than with rat, plasma components was indicated.