Absorption of some glycol ethers through human skin in vitro

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8457193· OSTI ID:5825183

Dugard, P H; Walker, M; Mawdsley, S J; Scott, R C

To assist evaluation of the hazards of skin contact with selected undiluted glycol ethers, their absorption across isolated human abdominal epidermis was measured in vitro. Epidermal membranes were set up in glass diffusion cells and, following an initial determination of permeability to tritiated water, excess undiluted glycol ether was applied to the outer surface for 8 hr. The appearance of glycol ether in an aqueous receptor phase bathing the underside of the epidermis was quantified by a gas chromatographic technique. A final determination of tritiated water permeability was compared with initial values to establish any irreversible alterations in epidermal barrier function induced by contact with the glycol ethers. 2-Methoxyethanol (EM) was most readily absorbed (mean steady rate 2.82 mg/cm/sup 2//hr), and a relatively high absorption rate (1.17 mg/cm/sup 2//hr) was also apparent for 1-methoxypropan-2-ol (PM). There was a trend of reducing absorption rate with increasing molecular weight or reducing volatility for monoethylene glycol ethers (EM, 2.82 mg/cm/sup 2//hr; 2-ethoxyethanol, EE, 0.796 mg/cm/sup 2//hr; 2-butoxyethanol EB, 0.198 mg/cm/sup 2//hr) and also within the diethylene glycol series: 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol (DM, 0.206 mg/cm/sup 2//hr); 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethanol (DE, 0.125 mg/cm/sup 2//hr) and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol (DB, 0.035 mg/cm/sup 2//hr). The rate of absorption of 2-ethoxyethyl acetate (EEAc) was similar to that of the parent alcohol, EE. Absorption rates of diethylene glycol ethers were slower than their corresponding monoethylene glycol equivalents. Combination of intrinsic toxicity and ability to pass across skin contribute to assessment of hazards of contact with undiluted glycol ethers. 9 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, Macclesfield, England
• OSTI ID: 5825183
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ACETATES
ALCOHOLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL CULTURES
CELL MEMBRANES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
EPIDERMIS
EPITHELIUM
ETHANOL
ETHERS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GLYCOLS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN VITRO
MAMMALS
MAN
MEMBRANES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PERMEABILITY
PRIMATES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SKIN
SKIN ABSORPTION
TISSUES
TOXICITY
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES