Dermal absorption of neat and aqueous volatile organic chemicals in the Fischer 344 rat

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80140-9· OSTI ID:5317653

Morgan, D L; Cooper, S W; Carlock, D L; Sykora, J J; Sutton, B; Mattie, D R; McDougal, J N ^[1]

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1. NSI Inc., Environmental Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

Quantification of dermal absorption of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from aqueous solutions is required to understand the potential health hazards resulting from skin exposure to these chemicals in contaminated water. Male Fischer 344 rats were dermally exposed (3.1-cm2 dorsal skin) to neat, one-third saturated, two-thirds saturated, or saturated aqueous solutions of 14 VOCs for 24 hr. Blood samples were obtained via indwelling jugular catheters during exposure (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hr), and analyzed for the VOCs by gas chromatography using headspace analysis. Absorption of the neat VOCs in this series of chemicals decreased as water solubility decreased. Peak blood levels of VOCs attained during exposure for 24 hr to neat chemicals were: 1,2-dichloroethane (135.1 micrograms/ml), bromochloromethane (113.3 micrograms/ml), chloroform (51.0 micrograms/ml), benzene (24.2 micrograms/ml), tetrachloroethylene (21.1 micrograms/ml), dibromomethane (18.2 micrograms/ml), trichloroethylene (11.6 micrograms/ml), toluene (9.5 micrograms/ml), xylene (8.8 micrograms/ml), hexane (8.0 micrograms/ml), ethylbenzene (5.6 micrograms/ml), styrene (5.3 micrograms/ml), carbon tetrachloride (5.0 micrograms/ml), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (3.4 micrograms/ml). Blood levels of 1,2-dichloroethane and benzene continued to increase during the 24-hr exposure to neat chemical, while blood levels of the other neat VOCs peaked within 4 hr and then either decreased or remained about the same for the duration of the exposure. Absorption of VOCs from one-third, two-thirds, or saturated aqueous solutions was rapid, and resulted in depletion of the chemical from the solution although only a small amount of water was absorbed. Blood levels of each VOC were directly related to the exposure concentrations.

• OSTI ID: 5317653
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (United States) Vol. 55:1; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ALKANES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ANIMALS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DISPERSIONS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HEXANE
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MIXTURES
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RATS
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SKIN ABSORPTION
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
STYRENE
TOLUENE
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION