Predicted chemical warfare agent VX toxicity to uniformed soldier using parathion in vitro human skin exposure and absorption

Chemical warfare agents (CWA) are easily and inexpensively produced and are a significant threat to military forces and the public. Most well-known CW As are organophosphorus compounds, a number or which are used as pesticides , including parathion, This study determined the in vitro percutaneous abso rption of parathion as a CWA simulant through naked human skin and uniforme d skin (dry and sweated), Parathion percentage dose absorbed through naked skin (1.78 +/- 0.41) was greater than dry uniformed skin (0.29 +/- 0.17; p = 0.000) and sweated uniformed skin (0.65 +/- 0.16; p = 0.000), Sweated and dry uniformed skin absorption were also different (p = 0.007), These relat ive dry and sweated uniformed skin absorptions were then applied to VX skin permeability for naked skin (head, neck, arms, and hands) and the remainin g uniformed skin over the various regions of the human body. Risk assessmen t shows VX 50% lethality within the first hour for a soldier wearing a swea ted uniform. By 8 h postexposure to naked skin plus trunk area predicted le thality for both dry and sweated uniform, and, at 96 h postexposure, all bo dy regions individually exposed would produce lethality. Military uniform a nd public clothing provide some immediate protection but absorption through cloth and skin does occur. Immediate safety response to skin and clothing is required. (C) 2000 Academic Press.