The Laboratory of toxicology and safe use of pesticides came out of the oldest Laboratory of the Institute - the Laboratory of Toxicology, created in 1929 under the leadership of Professor G.L.Shkavera, a representative of the school of one of the most famous Soviet toxicologists – N.P. Kravkov.

In the 60's in the Laboratory, headed by L.I. Medved, the research was started on toxicology of pesticides on the basis of organophosphorus compounds, carbamic acid, thio- and dithiocarbamic acids (Yu.S. Kagan, O.N. Burkatska, G.O. Voitenko, V.G. Tsapko, E.I. Spynu, and others), new methods of studying the toxic effects of pesticides on the reproductive function and development were developed, mutagenic and sensitizing properties were determined (I.O. Anina, V.M. Karpenko, I.L Medved, A.I. Olifir, and others).

The main focus of the scientific activity of the Laboratory at present is the use of mathematical modeling to determine one of the most important components of the harmful effects of pesticides - their skin resorptive intake by the body. Mathematical modeling on the basis of modern ideas on the penetration of chemical substances through the skin from the standpoints of the theory of diffusion and the theory of solubility allowed to more accurately understand the quantitative part in formation of the "skin resorptive " part of the exposed dose and its "quota" in understanding the permissible absorbed dose of a pesticide. The solving of this issue makes it possible to develop a hygienic standard - the maximum permissible level of skin contamination by pesticides from the officially accepted level of influence on the operator, accepted in the European Union on the basis of the systemic approach (the so-called "reverse" modeling).

In recent years, the development of modeling the skin permeability of pesticides in the phase of the unstable process has been introduced in the Laboratory, which is a typical phenomenon in human life in the case of risk occurrence to human health, associated with pesticides’ presence in the environmental objects (bathing and swimming, work on garden plots, care of plants, etc.).

A characteristic feature of the Laboratory's work at the present stage is a combination of scientific research and self-financing activity, allowing to create new opportunities for scientific studies, based on the use of newly synthesized molecules of pesticides and the relevant Information Base, accompanying their introduction. All this enriches the scientific experience and broadens the horizons of the scientific outlook of the employees.

A useful experience in this regard was obtained in cooperation with Companies Bayer Cropscience (Germany), Monsanto (USA), BASF (Germany), Zeneca (Great Britain), Rhon Poulenc (France), Agriphar AG (Belgium), and many others.

Over the last years, the specialists of the Laboratory received 3 patents for utility models on determining the exposure skin doses of pesticides, morpho-chemical analysis of penetration of chemical substances through the skin, determination of the threshold and ineffective levels of sulfonylureas derivatives in short-term experiments.

The Laboratory proposes the following services:

The Laboratory provides information services and practical assistance to public and private enterprises, foreign companies and institutions, and individuals on:

  • Toxicological studies of chemicals (pesticides, mineral fertilizers, plant growth regulators, disinfectants, etc.) in the volume of primary toxicological characteristics

• Hygienic studies in the field of the state testing of pesticides and

agrochemicals

• Expert opinions on products that require clearance at the state border for

their state registration in the State Consumption Service

(Derzhspozhsluzhba), the Ministry of Natural Resources and the

Environment.