Review of ethics in scientific research
Intoxication by cyanide in Fires: A study in monkeys using Polyacrylonitrile is an experiment carried out by David A Purser et. Al. at the Department of Inhalation Toxicology Huntington Research centre, England, 1984. The aim of these researchers was to look at the incapacitating effect of fire atmospheres paying particular attention to the effects of sub-lethal concentrations of Hydrogen cyanide (HCN). These researchers were concerned with discovering which fire atmosphere components were likely contributors to toxicity by comparing the effects of atmospheres made with Polyacrylonitrile to HCN gas atmospheres on monkeys.
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a fibre commonly used as padding and other fabrics. Under thermal decomposition theoretically 50% of the mass of this polymer becomes available as HCN. The theory being questioned was whether it is the cyanide or the other nitrites released from the burning of PAN that result in incapacitation of fire victims. Seven Cynomologus monkeys were exposed to different atmospheres. Three were exposed to the product of the pyrolysis of PAN at 300, 600 and 900 degrees Celsius and the other four were exposed to HCN gas atmospheres. They monkeys’ vitals were monitored so that the time of the earliest clinical signs of exposure could be recorded, as well as the severity. It was found that the HCN gas and the PAN atmospheres produced almost similar results and hence it was concluded that HCN was the main component of the PAN atmospheres and the cause of incapacitation in fire victims.
I can see that the experiment was performed with accuracy and that the results have been analysed and discussed thoroughly, but the specific nature of the experiment means that the results cannot be validly used to understand a real fire situation. In a house fire the atmosphere would contain more than pyrolised PAN. I think using animals for experimentation with a low potential for unearthing new, practical information is unethical. It is
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a fibre commonly used as padding and other fabrics. Under thermal decomposition theoretically 50% of the mass of this polymer becomes available as HCN. The theory being questioned was whether it is the cyanide or the other nitrites released from the burning of PAN that result in incapacitation of fire victims. Seven Cynomologus monkeys were exposed to different atmospheres. Three were exposed to the product of the pyrolysis of PAN at 300, 600 and 900 degrees Celsius and the other four were exposed to HCN gas atmospheres. They monkeys’ vitals were monitored so that the time of the earliest clinical signs of exposure could be recorded, as well as the severity. It was found that the HCN gas and the PAN atmospheres produced almost similar results and hence it was concluded that HCN was the main component of the PAN atmospheres and the cause of incapacitation in fire victims.
I can see that the experiment was performed with accuracy and that the results have been analysed and discussed thoroughly, but the specific nature of the experiment means that the results cannot be validly used to understand a real fire situation. In a house fire the atmosphere would contain more than pyrolised PAN. I think using animals for experimentation with a low potential for unearthing new, practical information is unethical. It is