In vitro penetration of pesticides through human newborn foreskin

The in vitro dermal penetration of 14C-labelled parathion, fenvalerate, carbofuran, and lindane through fresh full-thickness human newborn foreskin was determined at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h. The pesticides were applied to a constant dosing area (0.031 cm2), and a fixed dose (1.18 microgram), for each of the compounds studied. 90%, or greater, of the labelled pesticides were recovered in all cases. Carbofuran showed the greatest mean penetration of 82% followed by parathion and lindane with mean penetrations of 79 and 66%, respectively. Fenvalerate exhibited a mean penetration of 9% which is significantly lower than that of the other three compounds. No difference was noted in the penetration of pesticides through human skin from blacks and whites.