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Percutaneous penetration of benzene in hairless mice: An estimate of dermal absorption during tire‐building operations
Author(s) -
Susten Allan S.,
Dames Barbara L.,
Burg Jeanne R.,
Niemeier Richard W.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700070408
Subject(s) - hairless , benzene , medicine , inhalation , natural rubber , toxicology , solvent , penetration (warfare) , absorption (acoustics) , anesthesia , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , materials science , biochemistry , biology , operations research , engineering
Repeated skin contact with solvents containing as much as 0.5% benzene is common in workers building regular bias passenger tires. To estimate the amount of benzene absorbed through the skin of these workers, a series of in vivo studies was conducted in hairless mice. Percutaneous absorption, following single dermal applications of 14 C‐benzene contained in rubber solvent at a concentration of 0.5% (v/v), was calculated directly from the sums of radioactivity found in excreta, expired breath, and the carcass. Data from the study, together with observations made during tire‐building operations, suggest that a worker could absorb 4–8 mg of benzene daily through the skin. This compares to 14 mg per day via inhalation at the NIOSH recommended standard of 1 ppm. Thus dermal absorption could contribute from 20–40% of the total benzene dose of these workers.