Relationship between eye and skin irritation in rabbits using a series of textile fiber finishes

A series of 76 fiber finishes, typically composed of blends of lubricants, emulsifiers, antistatic agents and fatty acid soaps, were tested in rabbits to determine both the eye and the skin irritation potential. Each finish was classified as being either non-, slightly, mildly, moderately or severely irritating to the target tissue during a 48-h post-treatment period. Seven (9.2%) of the finishes tested were severely irritating to both the skin and the eye; two (2.6%) were determined to be non-irritating to both tissues. While occasionally finishes produced equal degrees of damage resulting in similar irritancy classifications, seven (9.2%) finishes were found to be severely irritating to the skin without producing any irritation in the eye. Conversely, one finish was found to be a severe eye irritant without producing any skin irritation. The suggested use of the skin irritation data to predict the ocular reaction needs to be carefully examined, particularly with materials such as these fiber finishes. The prediction that a severe skin irritant is also a severe eye irritant was demonstrated to be in error with 8 of 75 (10.5%) of the finishes studied. Further, there is little predictive association between the skin and eye irritation for these compounds.