Question

Chloroform, 0.01mg/kg-day

Acetone,  0.1mg/kg-day

Xylene 2.0 mg/kg-day

Phenol 0.6mg/kg-day

Which of these is the most dangerous?

Answer 1

Question: Which of these is the most dangerous?

1. Chloroform, 0.01mg/kg-day

2. Acetone,  0.1mg/kg-day

3. Xylene 2.0 mg/kg-day

4. Phenol 0.6mg/kg-day

Answer:

LD50 value of Chloroform = 704 mg/kg

LD50 value of Acetone = 3000 mg/kg

LD50 value of Xylene = 4300 mg/kg

LD50 value of Phenol = 270 mg/kg

So, LD50 of Phenol : Chloroform : Acetone : Xylene   = 270 : 704 : 3000 : 4300

If toxicity of Phenol say 1

then toxicity of Chloroform is 270/704 = 0.384 times of Phenol because LD50 is inversely proportional

toxicity of Acetone is 207/3000 = 0.069 times of Phenol because LD50 is inversely proportional

toxicity of Xylene is 207/4300 = 0.048 times of Phenol because LD50 is inversely proportional

Concentration given in the question Phenol : Chloroform : Acetone : Xylene : = 0.6 : 0.01 : 0.1 : 2.0

So, if conc. of Phenol say 1

then conc. of Chloroform is 0.01/0.6 = 0.0166 times of Phenol

then conc. of Acetone is 0.1/0.6 = 0.166 times of Phenol

then conc. of Xylene is 2.0/0.6 = 3.33 times of Phenol

2.0 mg/kg-day Xylene equivalent to 3.33 x 0.048 = 0.159 Phenol

0.1mg/kg-day Acetone equivalent to 0.166 x 0.069 = 0.011 Phenol

0.6mg/kg-day Phenol equivalent to 0.6 x 1 = 0.6 Phenol

0.01mg/kg-day Chloroform equivalent to 0.01 x 0.384= 0.004 Phenol

So, Toxicity of   0.6mg/kg-day Phenol >2.0 mg/kg-day Xylene > 0.1mg/kg-day Acetone > 0.01mg/kg-day Chloroform

Explanation:

In toxicology, the median lethal dose, LD50 (abbreviation for "lethal dose, 50%"), LCt50 is a measure of the lethal dose of a toxin, radiation, or pathogen. The value of LD50 for a substance is the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population after a specified test duration. LD50 figures are frequently used as a general indicator of a substance's acute toxicity. A lower LD50 is indicative of increased toxicity.