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Appendices 1-18 to: Report on the Health Effects of Selected Pesticide Coformulants

9   Toxicokinetics

9.1   Absorption, distribution, and elimination

9.1.1   Inhalation

Inhaled diammonium sulphate particles (0.2 mg/m³) with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 0.3 to 0.6 mm reached the lungs of Syrian hamsters. However, a substantial proportion of the compound was found in the nose. (US Department of Commerce - quoted from IUCLID 2000).

The clearance of diammonium sulphate (inhaled at a concentration of 0.2 mg/m³) from the hamster lungs (via the blood and urinary tract) has been determined to be about 20 minutes. The results of clearance studies with guinea pigs and rabbits suggested that there was no species difference. No further details were given. (US Department of Commerce - quoted from IUCLID 2000).

9.1.2   Oral intake

Systemic effects and death following oral exposure to diammonium sulphate indicate that it may be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (IUCLID 2000, Sato et al. 1999).

Soluble sulphate salts are rather slowly absorbed from the alimentary tract. Because of their osmotic activity, they draw water into the lumen of the bowel and produce purging. (Gosselin et al. 1984 – quoted from HSDB 2000).

9.1.3   Dermal contact

No data have been found.

9.1.4   Other routes

No data have been found.

9.2   Mode of action

Acute intoxication with ammonium may affect the cerebral nervous system by inhibition of the energy metabolism such as a decrease in ATP in the brain or by inhibition of glutamic acid metabolism resulting in a disturbance of neurotransmitters (Jablonska 1975, Hindfelt et al. 1977, McCandless & Schenker 1981, Schenker & Brady 1988 - all quoted from Sato et al. 1999).

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