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From dermal exposure to internal dose

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 17, pages S38–S47 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Exposure scenarios form an essential basis for chemical risk assessment reports under the new EU chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals). In case the dermal route of exposure is predominant, information on both exposure and dermal bioavailability is necessary for a proper risk assessment. Various methodologies exist to measure dermal exposure, providing quantitative or semiquantitative information. Although these studies may provide very specific and relevant information, it should be realized that case by case in-depth exposure assessment would be a very expensive process. Dermal bioavailability data are most often obtained from in vitro studies or animal experiments. For the design of studies, which generate data relevant for chemical risk assessment, detailed information on the exposure conditions is crucial (skin surface exposed, exposure duration, dose and physical state of the chemical). Results from non-testing methods for skin absorption, such as (Q)SARs, have been used only to a very limited extent for regulatory purposes. Suggestions are made in order to extend the use these methods to dermal risk assessment of chemical substances, thereby improving the practicability of REACH.

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Acknowledgements

This paper addresses various approaches on dermal exposure assessment used at present in regulatory risk assessment and identifies some aspects needing improvement. The text and recommendations are partly based on the discussions and proceedings of the Workshop “Quantitative Risk Assessment” (OEESC-2005 Conference, Stockholm, Sweden) and the workshop “Dermal Transfer and Penetration Algorithms” (Global Net on Consumer Exposure Modeling, June 20/21, 2005, Verbania/Intra (Italy)) in which, in addition to the authors, the following individuals participated (Global Net on “Consumer Exposure Modelling”: Report of Workshop No. 1 on “Dermal transfer and penetration algorithms”, 2006): ten Berge, Wil, Santoxar, Westervoort, The Netherlands; Bunge, Annette L., Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA; Corish, John, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Cronin, Mark, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England; Diembeck, Walter, Beiersdorf A.G., Hamburg, Germany; de Heer, Cees, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, The Netherlands (now: RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands); van der Jagt, Katinka E., EMEA, London, England (now: DG Enterprise EU, Brussels, Belgium); Kephalopoulos, Stelios, JRC/IHCP/PCE, Ispra, Italy; Kissel, John, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; McCready, David, The Dow Chemical Company, South Charleston, West Virginia, USA; Papamelitiou, Demosthenos, JRC, IHCP, PCE, Ispra, Italy; Patlewiecz, Grace, JRC/IHCP/ECB, Ispra, Italy; Perkins, John, Dow Agroscience Ltd., Milton Park Abingdon, England; Ross, John, Infoscientific, Carmichael, CA, USA; Steiling, Winfried, Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf, Germany; Tyler, Tip, Health Studies Management & Consulting, Annandale, VA, USA; Warren, Nick, Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton, England; Williams, Faith, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, England and Worth, Andrew, JRC/IHCP/ECB, Ispra, Italy.

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  1. TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, The Netherlands

    Johannes J M Van de Sandt & Joop J Van Hemmen

  2. US EPA, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Mike Dellarco

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  1. Johannes J M Van de Sandt
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Correspondence to Johannes J M Van de Sandt.

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Van de Sandt, J., Dellarco, M. & Van Hemmen, J. From dermal exposure to internal dose. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 17 (Suppl 1), S38–S47 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500579

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