Studies of Effects of Particle Size on The Toxicity of Insecticide Aerosols

Abstract

Inhalation toxicity values for aerosols of four insecticides (chlorpyrifos, malathion, naled and resmethrin) have been expressed as LD50 values in mg/kg body-weight. The inhalation LD50 was compared with the oral LD50 for four pesticide aerosols of mass median diameter 2.1 micrometer. By this method of comparison chlorpyrifos was slightly more toxic to rats by the inhalation than by the oral route but naled was about 21 times more toxic by the inhalation route. When the aerosol particle size was increased to mass median diameter 18 - 20 micrometer, the toxicity of naled was reduced by at least one- fourth. Malathion and resmethrin aerosols were insufficiently toxic to kill animals by practicable acute inhalation exposure. Significant plasma cholinesterase depression was observed when animals were exposed to sub-lethal doses of either chlorpyrifos or naled aerosols.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA037015

Entities

People

  • Peter E. Berteau
  • Robert L. Dimmick
  • Wallace A. Deen

Organizations

  • University of California

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Alkanes
  • Animals
  • Chemistry
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Insecticides
  • Lethal Dosage
  • Malathion
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Particle Size
  • Particles
  • Pesticides
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Resmethrin
  • Rodents

Fields of Study

  • Agricultural and Food sciences

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Neurotoxicology
  • Polar and Arctic Studies