DMSO/Plastic bottles

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4 total messages Started by Robert D. Darby Tue, 23 Nov 1993 18:32

#4597

Author: Robert D. Darby
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1993 18:32

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This summer I injured a tendon at my knee in a minor accident.  I
have been using DMSO for over 20 years and did not hesitate to
apply it to my knee.  I was out of town however and borrowed some
from someone else.  The particular bottle was plastic and had not
been opened for 20 years.  My DMSO has always been in glass
bottles.

The result of repeated application was not what I expected.  DMSO
when applied topically will eventually cause a mild dermatitis,
but this time the application began to turn scarlet red.  The
knee doubled in size.  I had to have fluid drained twice and
after 4 months it is still bothering me.

I discussed the DMSO application with three doctors and they felt
it was not associated with the DMSO at all and had never heard of
such a problem.

My question is, is there a known problem with the storage of DMSO
in plastic bottles?  It is my guess that the plastic after 20
years was in the DMSO solution.  I have not had it analyzed yet,
but I will.

Thanking you in advance.

Robert D. Darby        Email:  darby@halcyon.com

Re: DMSO/Plastic bottles

#4591

Author: Marc Wiles
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1993 22:35

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An inherent problem with DMSO, besides the fact that it's a very nasty
chemical to use, is that is a beautiful carrier for many organic and
inorganic agents.  It is entirely possible that the DMSO picked up
something from inside the bottle and you transfered the substance to your
knee.

Personally, knowing that DMSO can be carcinogenic and teratogenic, I
wouldn't use it as a topical applicant.  Having worked in the
pharmaceutical industry during my post-doc, I can tell you that safety
people have fits if you don't take care when handling DMSO.

Marc

Re: DMSO/Plastic bottles

#4592

Author: Keith Warren Rickert
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1993 04:50

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In <2cu37s$elc@unix1.circ.gwu.edu> wilesm@unix1.circ.gwu.edu (Marc Wiles) writes:

>An inherent problem with DMSO, besides the fact that it's a very nasty
>chemical to use, is that is a beautiful carrier for many organic and
>inorganic agents.  It is entirely possible that the DMSO picked up
>something from inside the bottle and you transfered the substance to your
>knee.

>Personally, knowing that DMSO can be carcinogenic and teratogenic, I
>wouldn't use it as a topical applicant.  Having worked in the
>pharmaceutical industry during my post-doc, I can tell you that safety
>people have fits if you don't take care when handling DMSO.

Well, I'll have to agree with a lot of this. I dont know
about it being carcinogenic or teratogenic (I don't know, not I doubt)
but I do know that its quite a good carrier, it dissolves
a lot of things, and as far as the solvents I usually handle
its one of the 'dirtier' ones...i.e. it picks up more contaminants
than many other solvents I work with.
I also am not wild about the sensations or odor of it, 
it to me smells quite nasty and I would not want it
on or in my body. I'm quite happy keeping it in the NMR tubes
with my samples where it belongs.

Keith
-- 
Keith Rickert            | "That was only one of the many occasions on which
rickert@cco.caltech.edu  | I met my death - an experience I don't hesitate
keith@imppig.caltech.edu | strongly to recommend" - Baron von Munchchausen

Re: DMSO/Plastic bottles

#4595

Author: Paul S. Winalski
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1993 18:05

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In article <cweaver-021293090726@med-pharm5.bu.edu>,
cweaver@acs.bu.edu (Charles E. Weaver) writes:
|>In article <2djs6d$i23@gap.cco.caltech.edu>, rickert@cco.caltech.edu (Keith
|>Warren Rickert) wrote:
|>
|>> In <2cu37s$elc@unix1.circ.gwu.edu> wilesm@unix1.circ.gwu.edu (Marc Wiles) writes:
|> 
|>> >Personally, knowing that DMSO can be carcinogenic and teratogenic, I
|>
|>> Well, I'll have to agree with a lot of this. I dont know
|>> about it being carcinogenic or teratogenic (I don't know, not I doubt)
|>
|>I can't remember the refs. but I seem to remember that when DMSO was used
|>as a drug vehicle in some trials that it had a nasty side effect of causing
|>cateracts in the eyes of the rats used in the study.  

That is my recollection, as well.  The rats in the study were fed large amounts
of DMSO and some developed cataracts.  I have never seen any studies claiming
that DMSO has carcinogenic or teratogenic effects, nor that it has any harmful
effects (even cataracts) when used topically by humans.

--PSW

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