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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 the percutaneous absorption of arsenic-73 as H3ASO4 from water and soil. Soil (Yolo County 65-California-57-8) was passed through 10-, 20-, and 48-mesh sieves. Soil retained by 80 mesh was mixed with radioactive arsenic-73 at a low (trace) level of 0.0004 microgram/cm2 (micrograms arsenic per square centimeter skin surface area) and a higher dose of 0.6 micrograms/cm2. Water solutions of arsenic-73 at a low (trace) level of 0.000024 micrograms/cm2 and a higher dose of 2.1 micrograms/cm2 were prepared for comparative analysis. In vivo in Rhesus monkey a total of 80.1 +/- 6.7% (SD) intravenous arsenic-73 dose was recovered in urine over 7 days; the majority of the dose was excreted in the first day. With topical administration for 24 hr, absorption of the low dose from water was 6.4 +/- 3.9% and 2.0 +/- 1.2% from the high dose. In vitro percutaneous absorption of the low dose from water with human skin resulted in 24-hr receptor fluid (phosphate-buffered saline) accumulation of 0.93 +/- 1.1% dose and skin concentration (after washing) of 0.98 +/- 0.96%. Combining receptor fluid accumulation and skin concentration gave a combined amount of 1.9%, a value less than that in vivo (6.4%) in the Rhesus monkey. From soil, receptor fluid accumulation was 0.43 +/- 0.54% and skin concentration was 0.33 +/- 0.25%. Combining receptor fluid plus skin concentrations gave an absorption value of 0.8%, an amount less than that with in vivo absorption (4.5%) in the Rhesus. These absorption values did not match current EPA default assumptions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The objective was to determine percutaneous absorption of cadmium as the chloride salt from water and soil into and through human skin. Soil (Yolo County 65-California-57-8) was passed through 10-, 20-, and 48-mesh sieves. Soil retained by 80 mesh was mixed with radioactive cadmium-109 at 13 ppb. Water solutions of cadmium-109 at 116 ppb 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/hr flow rate) for a 16-hr skin application time. Cadmium in water (5 microliters/cm2) penetrated skin to concentrations of 8.8 +/- 0.6 and 12.7 +/- 11.7% of the applied dose from two human skin sources. Percentage doses absorbed into plasma were 0.5 +/- 0.2 and 0.6 +/- 0.6%, respectively. Cadmium from soil (0.04 g soil/cm2) penetrated skin at concentrations of 0.06 +/- 0.02 and 0.13 +/- 0.05% for the two human skin sources. Amounts absorbed into plasma were 0.01 +/- 0.01 and 0.07 +/- 0.03%. Most of the nonabsorbed cadmium was recovered in the soap and water skin surface wash. Binding of cadmium from water to soil was greater than binding from water to powdered human stratum corneum, supporting the lower absorption from soil than from water. Short-term exposure of cadmium in water to human skin for 30 min (bath or swim) resulted in skin uptake, which upon further perfusion (48 hr), absorbed into the plasma receptor fluid (systemic). Cadmium in soil was increased from 6.5 to 65 ppb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.

The objective was to determine percutaneous absorption of DDT and benzo[a]pyrene in vitro and in vivo from soil into and through skin. Soil (Yolo County 65-California-57-8; 26% sand, 26% clay, 48% silt) was passed through 10-, 20-, and 48-mesh sieves. Soil then retained by 80-mesh was mixed with [14C]-labeled chemical at 10 ppm. Acetone solutions at 10 ppm 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/hr flow rate) for a 24-hr skin application time. With acetone vehicle, DDT (18.1 +/- 13.4%) readily penetrated into human skin. Significantly less DDT (1.0 +/- 0.7%) penetrated into human skin from soil. DDT would not partition from human skin into human plasma in the receptor phase (less than 0.1%). With acetone vehicle, benzo[a]pyrene (23.7 +/- 9.7%) readily penetrated into human skin. Significantly less benzo[a]pyrene (1.4 +/- 0.9%) penetrated into human skin from soil. Benzo[a]pyrene would not partition from human skin into human plasma in the receptor phase (less than 0.1%). Substantivity (skin retention) was investigated by applying 14C-labeled chemical to human skin in vitro for only 25 min. After soap and water wash, 16.7 +/- 13.2% of DDT applied in acetone remained absorbed to skin. With soil only 0.25 +/- 0.11% of DDT remained absorbed to skin. After soap and water wash 5.1 +/- 2.1% of benzo[a]pyrene applied in acetone remained absorbed to skin. With soil only 0.14 +/- 0.13% of benzo[a]pyrene remained absorbed to skin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)