Subchronic inhalation toxicity of azinphos-methyl in rats.

Azinphos-methyl was evaluated for its subchronic inhalation toxicity. The exposure of rats to concentrations of 0.195, 1.24, and 4.72 mg/m3, respectively, for 12 weeks, 6 hrs daily, 5 times weekly, resulted in effects only in those animals which inhaled aerosols of the highest concentration. This group showed a significant depression of the cholinesterase activity in plasma and erythrocytes. The males of this group had a lower body weight gain. The results are in agreement with the established maximum allowable concentration of 0.2 mg/m3.