No abstract

Dermal LD50 values for five organophosphate insecticides were determined in mice by application of solutions to hind feet. Values were simultaneously generated for the ED50 (milligrams per kilogram) for both cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase. Lethality was greatest with mevinphos, followed by parathion, methyl parathion, diazinon, and azinphosmethyl. LD50 values were higher than reported values for mice treated on shaved back skin. Cholinesterase ED50 values roughly agreed with LD50 values for mevinphos, parathion, methyl parathion, and azinphos-methyl, but diazinon appeared much more inhibitory of blood than neuronal cholinesterase. Red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase activities were equally sensitive for all but mevinphos and diazinon.

The dermal toxicity of five commonly used organophosphate insecticides was investigated with a mouse intermittent self-exposure model. Blood cholinesterases were monitored on d -3 and -1 before exposure and for 4--6 d during exposure to foliar residues. Responses were much greater in unmuzzled than in muzzled animals due to oral contamination. After two 10-h exposures, muzzled mice showed log-linear cholinesterase responses across a wide range of foliar pesticide concentrations. Foliar pesticide levels that caused 50% depression in plasma or red blood cell cholinesterase were determined with log-probit dose-response analysis. The greatest cholinesterase responses for both emulsifiable concentrate and encapsulated formulations were found with diazinon, followed by parathion and methyl parathion. Azinphos-methyl and mevinphos produced no significant responses in muzzled mice at maximal foliar concentrations. Symptomatology, food consumption, and body weight provided less sensitive indicators of response than cholinesterases. No consistent relation existed between the mouse intermittent self-exposure toxicities and mouse dermal LD50 values. Use of data from acutely exposed animals to predict the hazard of intermittent foliar exposure appears inadvisable.

Percutaneous penetration of [14C]parathion in mouse skin of nose, hind foot, scrotum, and tail was measured by recovery of excreted radioactivity relative to an intravenous dose. Oral ingestion was prevented by use of face muzzles and polyethylene rings at application sites. Penetration per unit area was in the following order (iv = 1.0): nose (0.8), scrotum (0.4), foot (0.3), and tail (0.3). Because of their greater surface area, tail and foot regions would contribute most to absorption in uniform ventral exposure. Daily recovery curves indicate apparent first-order kinetics of elimination.