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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental pollutants. The major resident site for these PCBs is the soil, and human skin is frequently in contact with soil. Our objective was to determine the percutaneous absorption of the PCBs Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1254 from soil. PCB-contaminated soil was prepared at levels of 44 ppm Aroclor 1242 and 23 ppm Aroclor 1254. PCB concentrations on skin were 1.75 micrograms/cm2 for Aroclor 1242 and 0.91 microgram/cm2 for Aroclor 1254. In vivo percutaneous absorption in the rhesus monkey was determined by urinary and fecal [14C]-PCB excretion for a 5-wk period following topical dosing. Absorption of Aroclor 1242 was determined in vitro with human skin for comparative purposes. In vivo in the rhesus monkey the percutaneous absorption of Aroclor 1242 was 13.8 +/- 2.7 (SD)% of the dose and the absorption of Aroclor 1254 was 14.1 +/- 1.0%. These absorption amounts are similar to the absorption of Aroclor 1242 and 1254 from other vehicles (mineral oil, trichlorobenzene, acetone). With in vitro percutaneous absorption through human skin, most of the Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1254 resided in the skin and the amounts were dependent upon dosing vehicle (water > mineral oil > soil). Both PCBs readily partitioned from water into soil and human powdered stratum corneum. By difference the partitioning favored both PCBs going from soil into stratum corneum. These data emphasize the role of soil in percutaneous absorption and provide information for appropriate risk assessment.

The objective was to determine percutaneous absorption of chlordane in vitro and in vivo from soil into and through skin. The data are needed to calculate the absorbed dose of chlordane from soil, which is then used to assess the toxicity risk. Chlordane, an insecticide for which residues exist in soil, is restricted currently to use for termite control. Chlordane is highly lipophilic with little or no movement out of soil. Soil (Yolo County 65-California-57-8; 26% sand, 26% clay, 48% silt, 0.9% organic) was passed through 10-, 20-, and 48-mesh sieves. Soil then retained by 80-mesh was mixed with 14C-labeled chemical at 67 ppm. Acetone solutions were prepared for comparative analysis. Human cadaver skin was dermatomed to 500 microns and used in glass diffusion cells with human plasma as the receptor fluid (3 ml/h flow rate) for a 24-h skin application time. Chlordane concentration within skin from in vitro studies was 0.34 +/- 0.31% from soil and 10.8 +/- 8.2% from acetone vehicle (p less than .01). Individual variation from human skin sources was evident (p less than .008). Chlordane accumulation in human plasma receptor fluid was the same for soil (0.04 +/- 0.05%) and acetone (0.07% +/- 0.06%) formulations. Most of the remaining chlordane was recovered in the soap and water skin surface wash. In contrast, in vivo percutaneous absorption of chlordane in the rhesus monkey was the same for soil (4.2 +/- 1.8%) and acetone (6.0 +/- 2.8%) formulations (p = .29, nonsignificant). Multiple soap and water washings were necessary to remove chlordane from skin, suggesting that a single wash may not adequately remove all the chlordane.