Percutaneous absorption of the insecticides fenitrothion and aminocarb in rats and monkeys.

The dermal penetration of 14C-ring-labeled fenitrothion and aminocarb was determined in rats and rhesus monkeys. In monkeys, 49 +/- 4% (t1/2 = 14 h) of the fenitrothion and 74 +/- 4% (t1/2 = 25 h) of aminocarb were absorbed from the forehead, while 21 +/- 10% (t1/2 = 17 h) fenitrothion and 37 +/- 14% (t1/2 = 31 h) aminocarb were absorbed from ventral forearm. Monkey forehead was 2.3 times and 2.0 times more permeable than the forearm for fenitrothion and aminocarb, respectively. In rats, 84 +/- 12% (t1/2 = 20 h) of the fenitrothion and 88 +/- 6% (t1/2 = 17 h) aminocarb was absorbed from the middorsal region. These results were corrected for incomplete excretion by intramuscular injections of fenitrothion in money, 95 +/- 7% (t1/2 = 12 h), and rat, 69 +/- 9% (t1/2 = 12 h), and aminocarb in monkey, 95 +/- 14% (t1/2 = 8 h), and rat, 63 +/- 6% (t1/2 = 15 h). These results suggest rapid dermal absorption of these pesticides in rats and monkeys and the use of these animal models for measuring dermal penetration is discussed.