Acute VS. Chronic Toxicity
Chronic toxicity is the result of long-term exposure to a chemical. Harmful effects may appear week, months, or years after exposure, even to small doses of a substance. Chronic effects of exposure to certain pesticides may include:
- Birth defects (teratogenesis) – Women exposed to certain toxic materials such as Thalidomide during pregnancy may give birth to children with birth defects. Having measles during pregnancy also has teratogenic effects.
- Benign or malignant tumors (carcinogenesis or oncogenesis are terms used for the production of malignant or cancerous tumors) – Exposure to asbestos and cigarette or cigar smoke also have carcinogenic effects. Some Vietnam War era military veterans exposed to Agent Orange (2,4-D + 2,4,5-T [accidentally contaminated with dioxin]) during their service, developed cancerous tumors many years after being exposed.
- Changes in genetic structure (mutagenesis) – People, either male or female, exposed to certain toxic materials may have their genes changed in ways which can cause their children to be born with birth defects many years later. Many mutagenic substances are also carcinogenic.
- Effects on fertility or reproductive rates (reproductive toxicity), which can affect either males or females
- Acute toxicity, on the other hand, is based on a single short-term exposure. The effects of acute pesticide poisoning (acute toxicity) are obvious within minutes or up to several hours after the exposure.
- Dermal exposure (splashing on the skin) – skin irritation, itching and reddening
- Oral exposure (drinking & swallowing) – nausea, muscle twitching, sweating, weakness
- Inhalation exposure (breathing fumes) – coughing, burning of the throat and lungs
- Ocular exposure (splashing in the eyes) – temporary or permanent irritation or blindness
Lethal Dose 50 (LD50) And Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50)
LD50 or Lethal Dose 50 is the term that is most often used to describe acute toxicity of any chemical, including pesticides. It is based on the amount (dose) of the chemical given at a single time which kills 50% of laboratory test animals. For pesticides, LD50 values are given for oral and dermal exposure. They are usually listed as (mg/kg), which stands for milligrams of chemical per kilogram of body weight. (Mg/kg is numerically equivalent to parts per million, often abbreviated ppm.) The lower the LD50, the more acutely toxic the chemical is since it only takes a small amount to kill half the test population. Thus a pesticide such as the no longer registered insecticide aldicarb which has an acute oral LD50 (rabbit) of 5.3 mg/kg is much more toxic than the herbicide glyphosate which has an acute oral LD50 (rat) of >5,000 mg/kg. Remember, the lower the LD50, the more toxic the chemical.
LC50 or Lethal Concentration 50 is similar to LD50, but is used for the amount of chemical in the air. LC50 values are expressed in mg/l (milligrams per liter of air). Acute inhalation studies, usually lasting for 4 hours, are used to determine the concentration of a chemical which will kill 50% of laboratory test animals. In some cases, such as environmental studies which might involve test animals such as fish or aquatic invertebrates, LC50 is used for the concentration of a chemical in water. In this case, it is expressed in mg/l (milligrams per liter of water).
Signal Words
Routes of exposure | I | II | III | IV |
Oral LD50 | Up to and including 50 mg/kg | 50-500 mg/kg | 500- 5,000 mg/kg | >5,000 mg/kg |
Inhalation LC50 | Up to and including 0.2 mg/l | 0.2-2 mg/l | 2-20 mg/l | >20 mg/l |
Dermal LD50 | Up to and including 200 mg/kg | 200 – 2,000 mg/kg | 2,000 – 20,000 mg/kg | >20,000 mg/kg |
Toxicity Category
Routes Of Exposure | I | II | III | IV |
Skin Effects | Corrosive | Severe irritation at 72 hours | Moderate irritation at 72 hours | Mild or slight irritation at 72 hours |
SIGNAL WORD | DANGER POISON | WARNING | CAUTION | CAUTION |
Pesticides that are moderately toxic have the signal word of Warning / Aviso. Two to three teaspoonsful of undiluted product can kill a 150 pound person.
Acute dermal toxicity, rather than acute oral toxicity, is used to determine Restricted Entry Intervals under the Federal Worker Protection Standard. Thus a pesticide such as copper hydroxide can have a high oral LD50 which gives the product a signal word of Caution, yet the REI is 48 hours because of eye and skin irritation.
Understanding Doses
Toxicity Category | Signal Word | Oral LD 50 (mg/kg) | Approximate Adult Lethal Dose (oral) |
I-Highly Toxic | Danger Poison | 0-50 | Few drops to 1 teaspoon (tsp) |
II-Moderately Toxic | Warning | 51-500 | 1 to 3 teaspoons (3 tsp=1 Tablespoon [Tbsp]) |
III-Slightly Toxic | Caution | 501-5,000 | 1 ounce (2 Tbsp) to 1 pint |
IV-Relatively nontoxic | Caution | >5,000 | 1 pint or more |
Where To Find First Aid Information
SIGNAL WORD: DANGER/PELIGRO + Poison + skull and crossbones
IF SWALLOWED: | – Immediately call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. – Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control center or doctor. – Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. – Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. |
IF IN EYES: | – Hold eye open and rise slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. – Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING | – Take off contaminated clothing. – Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
IF INHALED | – Move person to fresh air. – If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth if possible. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
SECTION 4. FIRST AID MEASURES
General | When possible, have the product container or label with you when calling a poison control center or doctor or going for treatment |
Eye | Rinse immediately with plenty of water, also under the eyelids, for at least 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a physician or poison control immediately. |
Skin | Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash off immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Call a physician or poison control immediately. |
Ingestion | Call a physician or poison control immediately. Rinse our mouth and give water in small sips to drink. DO NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a physician or poison control center. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Do not leave victim unattended. |
Inhalation | Move to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a physician or poison control immediately. |
SIGNAL WORD: WARNING/AVISO
IF SWALLOWED: | – Immediately call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. – Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control center or doctor. – Do not give any liquid to the person. – Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. |
IF IN EYES: | – Hold eye open and rise slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. – Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING: | – Take off contaminated clothing. – Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
SECTION 4. FIRST AID MEASURES
Eye | Hold eyes open and rinse slowly and gently with of water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a physician or poison control immediately. |
Skin | Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a physician or poison control for treatment advice. |
Ingestion | Immediately call a poison control center or doctor. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a physician or poison control center. Do not give any liquid to the person. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. |
Inhalation | Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call an emergency responder or ambulance, and then give artificial respiration; if by mouth-to-mouth, use rescuer protection (pocket mask, etc.). Call a physician or poison control center for treatment advice. If breathing is difficult, oxygen should be administered by qualified personnel. |
IF INHALED: | – Move person to fresh air. – If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a poison control center or doctor for further treatment advice. |
IF SWALLOWED: | – Call a poison control center or doctor immediately for treatment advice. – Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. – Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control center or doctor. – Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. |
IF IN EYES: | – Hold eye open and rise slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. – Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING: | – Take off contaminated clothing. – Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. – Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. |
Toxicity Category III – MSDS Excerpt, First Aid Measures: Diquat dibromide – 37.3%
SECTION 4. FIRST AID MEASURES
Eye | If in eyes: Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call the manufacturer, a physician or poison control for treatment advice. |
Skin | If on skin or clothing. Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call the manufacturer, a physician or poison control for treatment advice. |
Ingestion | If swallowed: Call the manufacturer, a physician or poison control immediately for treatment advice. Have the person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by the manufacturer, a physician or poison control center. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. |
Inhalation | If inhaled: Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call the manufacturer, a physician or poison control for treatment advice. |
SECTION 11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Acute Oral Toxicity | Rabbit: LD50: 8.4 mg/kg |
Acute Dermal Toxicity | Male rabbit: LD50: 1,960 mg/kg Female rabbit: LD50: 2,000 mg/kg |
Skin Irritation | Product is highly toxic and is rapidly absorbed through the eyes and skin. |
Eye Irritation | Product is highly toxic and is rapidly absorbed through the eyes and skin. |
Chronic Toxicity | Aldicarb caused cholinesterase inhibition in chronic studies and rats and dogs. |
SECTION 11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Eye Irritation | May cause moderate eye irritation. May cause corneal injury. Vapors may cause eye irritation experienced as mild discomfort or redness. |
Dermal | Prolonged contact may cause moderate skin irritation and redness. LD50 for a similar material for skin absorption in rabbits was >5,000 mg/kg |
Ingestion | Moderately toxic if swallowed. The oral LD50 for a similar material for rats was 776 mg/kg (males) and 300 mg/kg (females). Small amounts swallowed incidentally as a result of normal handling operations are not likely to cause injury; however, swallowing larger amounts may cause injury, even death. |
Inhalation | The aerosol LC50 for a similar material for rats is 2.7 mg/L for 4 hours. |
Systemic | Excessive exposure may produce organophosphate-type cholinesterase inhibition. |
SECTION 11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Ingestion | Oral (LD50 Female Rat): 886 mg/kg body weight |
Dermal | Dermal (LD50 Rabbit): >5,050 mg/k body weight |
Inhalation | Inhalation (LC50 Rat): 0.62 mg/l air – 4 hours |
Eye Contact | Mildly Irritating (Rabbit) |
Skin Contact | Slightly Irritant |
Skin Sensitization | Not a Sensitizer (Guinea Pig) |
Conclusion
Although some pesticides may have high acute oral toxicity, people who use pesticides can avoid poisoning by following label directions, especially for Personal Protective Equipment. More detailed information can be found in the MSDS for the pesticide. Remember, the lower the LD50 or LC50, the more toxic the chemical.