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In vitro human skin permeation of benzene in gasoline: Effects of concentration, multiple dosing and skin preparation

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Abstract

In vitro human skin benzene permeation was measured from gasoline formulations with benzene concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 10 vol% and from neat benzene. Steady-state fluxes (JSS), permeability coefficients (kp) and lag times (tlag) were calculated from infinite dose exposures. Permeation of benzene from small gasoline doses administered over a two-day period was also studied. The thermodynamic activity of benzene in gasoline at 30 °C was determined and the solution is near-ideal over the range from 0.8 to 100 vol%. JSS through human epidermal membranes were linear (R2=0.92) with concentration over the range from 0.8 to 10 vol%. JSS (μg/cm2/h) from gasoline (0.8 vol% benzene=6.99 mg/ml) through epidermis and full-thickness skin were 9.37±1.41 and 1.82±0.44, respectively. Neat benzene JSS was 566±138. Less than 0.25% of the total applied benzene mass from finite doses (10 μl/cm2) of gasoline was detected in receptor cells, and a small reduction of barrier function was observed from six total doses administered over 2 days. Application of these results to dermal exposure assessment examples demonstrates a range of systemic benzene uptakes that can be expected from occupational and consumer dermal exposures to gasoline, depending on the type and extent of exposure.

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Acknowledgements

Intramural funding for this research was provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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  1. Health Effects Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    H Frederick Frasch & Ana M Barbero

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  1. H Frederick Frasch
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Correspondence to H Frederick Frasch.

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Frasch, H., Barbero, A. In vitro human skin permeation of benzene in gasoline: Effects of concentration, multiple dosing and skin preparation. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 28, 193–201 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2017.10

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