Uptake, excretion, and metabolism of phorate in the land snail, helix aspersa (Müller)
Abstract Uptake, excretion, and metabolism of phorate (O,O‐diethyl S‐ethylthiomethyl phosphorodithioate) following application to lettuce leaves were investigated in the land snail , Helix aspersa. Snails were fed on a leaf disc of lettuce immersed in a solution of 100 ppm of phorate. Snails were dissected at time intervals between 1 and 7 days after dosing. Phorate was readily absorbed within 24 hrs following ingestion. The amount of phorate reached a peak value of 880 ug at 4days, and then dropped as time passed to the end of experiment (7days) indicating there was no accumulation of the compound in the snail tissues. Phorate was metabolized to phorate sulfoxide and phorate sulfone. Phorate and/or its metabolites were rapidly excreted soon after ingestion. The major compound identified in the excreta was the unchanged phorate.