Title
Dermal exposure assessment to benzene and toluene using charcoal cloth pads
Author
van Wendel de Joode, B.
Tielemans, E.
Vermeulen, R.
Wegh, H.
Kromhout, H.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2005
Abstract
Charcoal cloth pads have been used to assess volatile chemicals on the skin in a laboratory setting; however, they have not yet been applied to measure dermal exposure in occupational settings. This study aimed at evaluating whether charcoal pads can be used to assess dermal exposure to benzene and toluene in workers of a petrochemical plant. Inhalation and dermal exposure levels to benzene and toluene were assessed for workers of a petrochemical plant performing different jobs. Benzene uptake was assessed by determining S-phenylmercapturic acid in workers' urine samples. Dermal exposure levels on the charcoal pads were adjusted for ambient air levels of benzene and toluene by subtracting the amount of benzene or toluene measured in personal air from the amount of benzene or toluene measured on the charcoal pad. In general, measured external and internal exposure levels were low. The estimated contribution of the dermal route to internal benzene exposure levels was less than 0.06% for all jobs. Toluene personal air concentrations and benzene and toluene dermal exposure levels differed statistically significantly between job titles. For benzene, differences between jobs were larger for adjusted dermal exposures (maximum 17-fold, P = 0.02) than for inhalation exposures (maximum two-fold, P = 0.08). Also for toluene, although less clear, differences between jobs were larger for adjusted dermal exposures (maximum 23-fold, P = 0.01) as compared to inhalation exposures (maximum 10-fold, P = 0.01). Charcoal pads appeared to measure dermal exposures to benzene and toluene in addition to ambient air levels. Future studies applying charcoal cloth pads for the dermal exposure assessment at workplaces with higher dermal exposure to organic solvents may provide more insight into the biological relevance of dermal exposure levels measured by charcoal cloth pads. In addition, the design of the dermal sampler might be improved by configuring a dermal sampler, where part of the sampler is protected against direct contact and splashes, but still permeable for the gas phase. This design would most likely result in a better ability to correct for airborne concentrations at a given body location.
Subject
Health
Food and Chemical Risk Analysis
Benzene
Charcoal cloth pads
Dermal exposure
Toluene
acetylcysteine derivative
benzene
charcoal
organic solvent
toluene
airborne particle
ambient air
article
clothing
concentration (parameters)
drug blood level
human
industrial worker
inhalation
job analysis
occupational exposure
occupational hazard
occupational toxicology
personal monitoring
petrochemical industry
skin absorption
Administration, Cutaneous
Benzene
Charcoal
Chemical Industry
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Job Description
Occupational Exposure
Permeability
Petroleum
Toluene
Volatilization
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7c4f4df1-6efe-4c53-84ba-92a0b463f56e
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500349
TNO identifier
238301
ISSN
1053-4245
Source
Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, 15 (1), 47-50
Document type
article