10. TOXICITY LEVEL
10
The toxicity of a compound may be modified by differences in formulation. Solvents are
especially important in this connection, but wetting agents and other ancillary
compounds may be involved. When these chemicals promote or retard the toxicity of a
pesticide, it is usually through promotion or retardation of absorption. The facilitating
action may involve injury to a barrier, especially in the skin. Increase in absorption may
also involve a solvent that, by its own ready absorption, enhances absorption of the
toxicant.
11. CONCLUSION11
Wetting agents increase the spreading and penetrating
properties of a liquid by lowering its surface tension. The
surface tension of a liquid is the tendency of the molecules
to adhere to each other at the surface, and is determined by
the strength of the bonds or attraction between the liquid
molecules. A wetting agent stretches these bonds and
decreases the tendency of molecules to bond together,
which allows the liquid to spread more easily across any
solid surface