[Participation of environmental chemicals in experimental allergic conjunctivitis]

The effects of organophosphorus pesticides (trichlorfon and fenitrothion) and an organochlorine herbicide (paraquat) on experimental allergic conjunctivitis were studied quantitatively. Guinea pigs were passively immunized with antiserum to Japan cedar pollen. The above chemicals were administered subcutaneously 2 days prior to challenge with cedar pollen in the conjunctival sac, resulting in allergic conjunctivitis. The intensity of the conjunctival allergic reaction was quantitatively estimated by measuring the extravasation of Evans blue in the conjunctiva which had previously been administered intravenously. The allergic conjunctivitis was apparently aggravated by extremely low dosage level of organophosphorus pesticide (10(-4) approximately 10(-5) mg/kg) and organochlorine herbicide (10(-3) approximately 10(-4) mg/kg). The most intensive aggravating reaction was obtained 10(-5) mg/kg of organophosphorus pesticide and at 10(-4) mg/kg of paraquat dichloride. The aggravating effects of organophosphorus pesticide and organochlorine herbicide persisted at least two weeks after the single administration.