ENVIRONMENTAL-TEMPERATURE AND PERCUTANEOUS ABSORPTION OF A CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITOR, VX

[摘要] S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) o-ethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX), an anticholinesterase liquid of low volatility, was applied to the skin of 139 men at environmental temperatures of -18, 2, 18 or 46.degree. C. The skin was decontaminated after 3 h and the men spent the next 21 h at about 27.degree. C. The amount of VX penetrating the skin was estimated from the inhibition of red blood cell cholinesterase. The decimal fraction of the dose that penetrated in 3 h ranged from 0.04 at -18.degree. C to 0.32 at 46.degree. C for the cheek and from 0.004 at +18.degree. C to 0.029 at 46.degree. C for the forearm. Further increase in cholinesterase inhibition after decontamination was evidence of a deposit of VX in the skin. The amount of VX remaining in the skin after decontamination was greater in the forearm and less in the cheek at higher temperatures.