[Distribution and elimination of C-14-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D) in rat tissues in acute poisoning]

The authors carried out investigations for elucidating the distribution in the internal organs and tissues and the rate of the absorption from the digestive tract and elimination from the organism of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid widely used in herbicides, to which man and animals are exposed. Radiometric investigations were carried out of the internal organs and tissues of male Wistar rats which were given one dose of the acid labelled with 14C one-third of LD-50/kg through an intragastric tube. The rats were killed at various time intervals for observing the rate of absorption and elimination of this compound. The measurements of radioactivity demonstrated high levels of the herbicide in the lungs, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys, and low levels in the adipose tissue and brain, with intermediate values in the adrenals and testicles. The compound is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract reaching its highest level in the tissues after 6-20 hours, and is eliminated nearly completely already on the second day. Small residues of the acid and its metabolites containing 14C were present in the tissues up to the 20th day of the experiment.