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The mismeasure of dermal absorption

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 21, pages 302–309 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The results of dermal absorption experiments are routinely and often exclusively reported in terms of fractional absorption. However, fractional absorption is not generally independent of skin loading conditions. As a consequence, experimental outcomes are commonly misinterpreted. This can lead in turn to poor estimation of exposures under field conditions and inadequate threat assessment. To aid interpretation of dermal absorption-related phenomena, a dimensionless group representing the ratio of mass delivery to plausible absorptive flux under experimental or environmental conditions is proposed. High values of the dimensionless dermal number (NDERM) connote surplus supply (i.e., flux-limited) conditions. Under such conditions, fractional absorption will generally depend on load and should not be assumed transferable to other conditions. At low values of NDERM, dermal absorption will be delivery-limited. Under those conditions, high fractional absorption is feasible barring maldistribution or depletion due to volatilization, washing, mechanical abrasion or other means. Similar logic also applies to skin sampling and dermal toxicity testing. Skin surface sampling at low NDERM is unlikely to provide an appropriate measure of potential dermal dose due to depletion, whereas dermal toxicity testing at high NDERM is unlikely to show dose dependence due to saturation.

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Acknowledgements

During preparation of this paper, the author was supported in part by both US EPA ORD through STAR RD-83184401-0 and NIOSH through 2 R01 OH007529-05A1. The material presented here has not been reviewed by either agency and no endorsement should be assumed.

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  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington, USA

    John C Kissel

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Correspondence to John C Kissel.

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Kissel, J. The mismeasure of dermal absorption. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 21, 302–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2010.22

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