Absorption of Pesticides in a Chronic Skin Disease

Abstract

The case of a 64-year-old pesticide formulator is presented. Despite the fact that the patient had no more exposure to dieldrin and several other organochlorine pesticides than his occupational associates, and that he used protective clothing, he, nonetheless, developed relatively high levels of these chemicals in his blood and tissues. The high levels are thought to be the result of increased absorption of these materials through his atrophic, ulcerated, crusted skin. These skin lesions were caused by the disease scleroderma. The findings suggest that persons with chronic skin diseases should not be employed to formulate pesticides, or at least that they use extra precautions while working at this occupation.