title: Wet decontamination-induced stratum corneum hydration--effects on the skin barrier function to diethylmalonate.
abstract: Decontamination of chemical agents from the skin uses both dry and wet decontamination processes. Recent studies have shown that wet decontamination frequently results in stratum corneum hydration. To evaluate the hydration effect of wet decontamination on the skin barrier function and hence on the decontamination efficiency, a series of comparative studies were carried out on human skin contaminated with the nerve agent simulant diethylmalonate, using decontamination media having different salinity and surfactants. The results showed that, compared to non-decontaminated skin, remnant diethylmalonate on decontaminated skin penetrated at an accelerated rate in the immediate 2 h following decontamination. This transient enhancement effect, ranging from 20 to 98%, was depended on the nature of the decontamination media used and was more obvious in skin samples that were decontaminated 1 h postexposure. All decontamination media exhibited this effect, with the greatest enhancement observed in the following order: anionic surfactant > cationic surfactant > non-ionic surfactant > deionized water > 0.9% saline > 9% saline.
authors.affiliation: DSO National Laboratories, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: U
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001558:Benzethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D002102:Cadaver; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008314:Malonates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008314:Malonates; D001558:Benzethonium; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; C030978:diethylmalonic acid