PCDD/Fs in textiles--part II: transfer from clothing to human skin.
The transfer of PCDD/Fs from contaminated textiles to the outermost layers of the skin (stratum corneum) of human volunteers was measured. The experiments were conducted with cotton T-shirts containing high levels of hepta- and octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The results indicated that there is little spatial variability in the transfer from the T-shirt to the skin surface (< factor2) and also little variability among individuals (< factor 3). The percent transfer from different cotton textiles (sigma PCDD/F: 1,900 pg/g - 281,000 pg/g) to the stratum corneum was found to be similar. The transfer from a white, unbleached polyester material was more than an order of magnitude lower, indicating that the PCDD/Fs were more tightly bound to the polyester than to the cotton. It was shown that the PCDD/Fs penetrate into deeper layers of the stratum corneum during an 8 hour exposure period. However, systemic exposure and a significant contribution of this pathway to the PCDD/F body burden is only possible if the compounds are able to overcome the penetration barrier posed by the viable epidermis.
Klasmeier
J
J
Ecological Chemistry and Geochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
Mühlebach
A
A
McLachlan
M S
MS
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013784:Textiles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran