Study of the acute human health effects of intermediates in the synthesis of sodium cromoglycate.

Sodium cromoglycate is manufactured by a seven-stage synthetic process. There has been no previous documentation of toxicological effects of the intermediate compounds in its synthesis. This paper describes the health effects of acute exposure to the intermediates on the skin, eye and respiratory tract. With the exception of the product of the fourth stage, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone, no significant local effects arise at exposures of 10 mg m-3. Inhalation of dried 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone produces nasal irritation and sneezing at short-term exposures of around 1 mg m-3.