[Evaluation of general toxicity of detergent Rokafenol-8 and its effect on the aggressiveness of coal mine dust].

Experiments aimed at testing the toxicity of the detergent (Rokafenol N-8) and determination of the biological effect of the detergent and mine dust with respect to histopathological changes in some internal organs were performed on albino rats and rabbits. The acute toxicity testing was based on determination of the medial lethal dose (LD50) after intragastric administration. Irritating action of the detergent on skin and eye was evaluated. The influence of the detergent on the aggressiveness of selected mine dusts was estimated by means of the intraperitoneal test. White rats were administered with a single intraperitoneal injection: 50 mg dust (I and III), 50 mg dust suspended in 1% Rokafenol N-8 (II and IV), 1 ml of 1% Rokafenol N-8 (V). The animals were subject to dissection after 6 weeks and 6 months. The influence of the detergent on the aggressiveness of mine dusts was assessed on the basis of internal organs histopathological examinations. According to Hodge and Sterne Chemical Substance Toxicity Classifications, the evaluated detergent was found to be a weakly toxic substance. Rokafenol N-8 has not induced any skin lesions in the experimental animals. No inflammatory reaction was found after administration of 1% detergent solution into the conjunctical sac, whereas 100% solution induced panophthalmia. Histopathological examinations have shown that the detergent (Rokafenol N-8) affects increasingly the dust induced pathomorphotic changes (primarily parenchymatous degeneration of liver).