(Created 12/02)
UNL Environmental Health and Safety · (402) 472-4925 · http://ehs.unl.edu
• Connective tissue: Provides elasticity against trauma.
• Lymph-blood system: Provide immunologic responses to infection.
The ability of skin to absorb foreign substances depends on the properties and health of the skin
and the chemical properties of the substances. Absorption is enhanced by:
• Breaking top layer of skin by abrasions or cuts.
• Increasing hydration of skin.
• Increasing temperature of skin which causes sweat cells
to open up and secrete sweat,
which can dissolve solids.
• Increasing blood flow to skin.
• Increasing concentrations of the substance.
• Increasing contact time of the chemical on the skin.
• Increasing the surface area of affected skin.
• Altering the skin's normal pH of 5.
• Decreasing particle size of substance.
• Adding agents which will damage skin and render it more susceptible to penetration.
• Adding surface-active agents or organic chemicals. DMSO, for example, can act as a
carrier of the substance.
• Inducing ion movement by an electrical charge.
Absorption of a toxic chemical through the skin can lead to
local effects through direct contact,
such as irritation and necrosis, and
systemic effects.
Many chemicals can cause a reaction with the skin resulting in inflammation called dermatitis.
These chemicals are divided into three categories:
•
Primary irritants: Act directly on normal skin at the site of contact (if chemical is in
sufficient quantity for a sufficient length of time). Skin irritants include: acetone, benzyl
chloride,
carbon disulfide, chloroform, chromic acid and other soluble chromium
compounds, ethylene oxide, hydrogen chloride, iodine, methyl ethyl ketone, mercury,
phenol, phosgene, styrene, sulfur dioxide,
picric acid, toluene, xylene.
•
Photosensitizers: Increase in sensitivity to light, which results in irritation and redness.
Photosensitizers include: tetracyclines, acridine, creosote, pyridine, furfural, and naphtha.
•
Allergic sensitizers: May produce allergic-type reaction after repeated exposures. They
include: formaldehyde, phthalic anhydride, ammonia, mercury, nitrobenzene, toluene
diisocyanate,
chromic acid and chromates, cobalt, and benzoyl peroxide.
