title: Measurement of phthalates in skin wipes: estimating exposure from dermal absorption.
abstract: This study has determined the levels of six phthalates (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di(isobutyl) phthalate (DiBP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) in skin wipes; examined factors that might influence the levels, including body location, time of sampling, and hand-washing; and estimated dermal absorption based on the measured levels. Skin wipes were collected from the forehead, forearm, back-of-hand, and palm of 20 participants using gauze pads moistened with isopropanol. DiBP, DnBP, and DEHP were most frequently detected; DEHP levels were substantially higher than DnBP and DiBP levels, and DnBP levels were somewhat lower than DiBP levels. The levels differed at different body locations, with palm > back-of-hand > forearm ≥ forehead. Repeated wipe sampling from six participants over a 1 month period indicated that levels at the same body location did not vary significantly. The estimated median total dermal absorption from skin surface lipids on the palm, back-of-hand, arm, and head are 0.48, 0.68, and 0.66 (μg/kg)/day for DiBP, DnBP, and DEHP, respectively. These estimates are roughly 10-20% of the total uptake reported for Chinese adults and suggest that dermal absorption contributes significantly to the uptake of these phthalates. Washing with soap and water removed more than 50% of the phthalates on the hands and may be a useful tool in decreasing aggregate phthalate exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University , Beijing 10084, China.
authors.forename: Mengyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yinping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Weschler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020405:Dermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D004391:Dust; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid