NON-LETHAL CHEMICAL AGENTS TOXICITY of CN and CS

DEFINITION OF TERMS

m3 = Cubic meter (Approximately 35 cubic feet) gm = Gram (0.353 oz.) mg = Milligram (0.001 grams - to convert grams to milligrams multiply by 1,000) cc = Cubic centimeter (0.000001 m3 or 1.0 gm) 1 oz. = 28.350 gm 66 minutes = time average man uses 1 m3 of air

MEDIAN INCAPACITATION DOSAGE (IC50) - The amount of inhaled vapor or aerosol which is sufficient to incapacitate 50% of exposed personnel. Usually expressed in milligrams per minute in one cubic meter of air.

INCAPACITATION CONCENTRATION TIME (ICT50) - Concentration (IC50) multiplied by the time (t) of exposure that incapacitates 50% of exposed personnel. Usually expressed in minutes of exposure. ! .004 mg/m3 - smallest amount a human can detect. (British Government Study) ! 0.5 mg/m3 - amount that riot bystanders usually retreat at. ! 4.0 mg/m3 - amount that rioters will usually disperse at.

Waco, Texas

MEDIAN LETHAL DOSAGE (LC50) - The amount of inhaled vapor or aerosol which is sufficient to kill 50% of exposed personnel. Usually expressed in milligrams per minute in one cubic meter of air.

LETHAL CONCENTRATION TIME (LCT50) - Concentration (LC50) multiplied by the time (t) of exposure that is lethal to 50% of exposed personnel. Usually expressed in minutes of exposure.

SAFETY FACTOR - Ratio between the lethal and incapacitating dose of an agent (LCT50/ICT50). CN: IC50 = 20 milligrams per minute / cubic meter of air. LC50 = 14,000 milligrams per minute / cubic meter of air SAFETY FACTOR OF 700 CS: IC50 = 20 milligrams per minute / cubic meter of air. LC50 = 25,000 milligrams per minute / cubic meter of air SAFETY FACTOR OF 1,250

LCT50 Calculators