Percutaneous Absorption of Chemical Vapors
Abstract
Some military and industrial chemical vapor exposure situations require determination of the hazard involved in skin exposures even when respiratory protection is provided. Hydrazine fuels have been identified as suspect carcinogens, and human exposure limits have been set at very low levels. Protection from hydrazine vapor inhalation and liquid hydrazine contact is essential to the long term health of military and civilian workers. Rates of penetration of hydrazine vapor through the skin have not been quantitated. Quantitation of vapor penetration through unprotected skin would aid in determining whether full suit protection is necessary or whether other protective measures might be sufficient. Limited studies of penetration of vapors in human volunteers and primates. A method for whole-body vapor exposure with respiratory protection in a more the laboratory rat is proposed. With this methodology, dermal vapor penetration of a wide variety of important chemicals can be investigated. Dihalomethanes were chosen as the initial chemicals to investigate vapor penetration because they were expected to penetrate the skin well, are easily detected in blood, and are metabolized in known pathways.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADP005159
Entities
People
- Gary W. Jepson
- Harvey J. Clewell Iii
- James N. Mcdougal
- Melvin E. Andersen
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory