title: Influence of free residual chlorine on cultured human epidermal keratinocytes from normal skin and hypertrophic scars.
abstract: In Japan, public health regulations state that the water in rinsing pools used before swimming should contain 50-100 mg/l of chlorine. We examined the influence of chlorination at high concentrations in rinsing pools on the skin using cultured human epidermal keratinocytes from normal skin and hypertrophic scars. Chlorination of cell culture for 15 min with 200 mg/l of free residual chlorine proved cytotoxic to both types of keratinocytes as did 100 mg/l of free residual chlorine for 1 or 3 consecutive days. Keratinocytes from hypertrophic scars, when cultivated in 100 mg/l of free residual chlorine, were more vulnerable to chlorine than those from normal skin. Cell characteristics of cultured keratinocytes from hypertrophic scars may be somewhat different from those of normal skin. The phenomena observed in this experimental model of the skin suggest that people exposed to chlorine in rinsing pools at concentrations in excess of 200 mg/l for about 15 min before swimming are at risk of developing cutaneous disorders, especially at sites of injury, e.g. scars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002713:Chlorine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000473:pathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002713:Chlorine