Decontamination efficacy of soapy water and water washing following exposure of toxic chemicals on human skin

Figures & data

Table 1. Properties for chemicals included in the study.

Chemical	CAS no.	MW (g mol^–1)	LogP^c	Vapor pressure (mm Hg 25 °C)	LC50 inhalation	LD50 skin	References
Acrylonitrile	107-13-1	53.06	0.173 ± 0.253	109	333 ppm 4H^−1 (rat)	63 mg kg^−1 (rabbit)	^34–36
2-Butoxyethanol	111-76-2	118.18	0.833 ± 0.239	0.88	450 ppm 4H^−1 (rat)	220 mg kg^−1 (rabbit)	^37–39
Ethyl lactate^a	687-47-8	118.13	−0.039 ± 0.252	3.75	>5.6 g m^−3 4H^−1 (rat)	5000 mg kg^−1 (rabbit)	^34^,^40^,^41
Methyl salicylate^b	119-36-8	152.15	2.523 ± 0.240	0.0343	n.a.	>2000 mg kg^−1 (rabbit)	^34^,^42
Tributylamine	102-82-9	185.36	4.704 ± 0.222	0.0934	75 ppm 4H^−1 (rat)	195 mg kg^−1 (rabbit)	^34^,^43

^aSimulant for nerve agent sarin. Toxicity LC₅₀ inhalation: 5 mg m⁻³ (mouse) and LD50 skin: 0.925 mg kg⁻¹ (rabbit)^44,45.

^bSimulant for sulphur mustard. Toxicity LC₅₀ inhalation: 120 mg m⁻³ (mouse) and LD50 skin: 40 mg kg⁻¹ (rabbit) ^45,46.

^cLogarithm octanol/water partition coefficients was calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Table 2. Compound-specific settings for analysis of tributylamine and 2-butoxyethanol.

	Parent ion (m/z)	Daughter ion (m/z)	Dwell (s)	Cone (V)	Collision (V)
Tributylamine (quan)	186	130	0.036	34	22
(qual)	186	74	0.036	34	22
2-butoxyethanol (quan)	119	57	0.036	10	10
(qual)	119	45	0.036	10	10

Figure 1. Cumulative penetration following skin exposure to neat agent concentration during 5 h experimental time. Acrylonitrile (top line), 2-butoxyethanol (2nd line), ethyl lactate (3rd line), methyl salicylate (4th line) and tributylamine (5th line). The results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 6).

Table 3. The cumulative amount of chemicals penetrated through human dermatomed skin with or without water decontamination.

Agent	Time to decon (min)	Decon procedure	Total cumulative amount (µg cm^−2 ± SEM)	DF
Acrylonitrile	–	Without decon	67.0 ± 20.0	–
	5	Water decon	7.6 ± 1.0***	9
	15	Water decon	20.5 ± 1.6*	3
2-Butoxyethanol	–	Without decon	25.3 ± 2.8	–
	5	Water decon	2.3 ± 0.4***	11
	15	Water decon	7.5 ± 0.7***	3
	45	Water decon	12.2 ± 2.2*	2
	120	Water decon	19.5 ± 5.5	1
Ethyl lactate	–	Without decon	12.4 ± 1.7	–
	5	Water decon	0.6 ± 0.1***	23
	15	Water decon	1.6 ± 0.1***	8
	45	Water decon	2.2 ± 0.5***	6
	120	Water decon	5.5 ± 0.6***	2
Methyl salicylate	–	Without decon	11.8 ± 1.3	–
	5	Water decon	2.4 ± 0.5***	5
	15	Water decon	2.2 ± 0.3***	5
	45	Water decon	3.6 ± 0.6***	3
	120	Water decon	5.1 ± 0.5***	2
Tributylamine	–	Without decon	3.9 ± 0.2	–
	5	Water decon	0.4 ± 0.1***	9
	15	Water decon	1.3 ± 0.1***	3
	45	Water decon	1.9 ± 0.2**	2
	120	Water decon	1.8 ± 0.4**	2

Chemicals were exposed in a neat agent concentration. Decontamination was performed by washing the agent off repeatedly 10 times with water. The decontamination factor (DF) is indicated for the evaluated procedures (ratio of the mean total cumulative amount without decontamination and the indicated decontamination procedure). The penetration through dermatomed human skin was monitored during 300 min. The results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 6). *p < 0.05 versus corresponding agent concentration control, **p < 0.01 versus corresponding agent concentration control, ***p < 0.001 versus corresponding agent concentration control (one-way ANOVA).

Figure 2. The penetration rate patterns for the neat agent concentration of (A) acrylonitrile, (B) 2-butoxyethanol, (C) ethyl lactate, (D) methyl salicylate, and (E) tributylamine following water decontamination. Decontamination was initiated after 5 min (open green), 15 min (closed green), 45 min (open blue), 2 h (closed blue) and without decontamination (black). Control line is the top line for all chemicals and the time points follow the order by which decontamination was initiated. Values are presented as the mean ± the SEM (n = 6). *p < 0.05 indicates significantly decreased penetration rate from the indicated time-point to the end of the experiment compared to experiment without decontamination.

Table 4. The cumulative amount of chemicals penetrated through human dermatomed skin with or without decontamination with 2% soapy water.

Agent	Time to decon (min)	Decon procedure	Total cumulative amount (µg cm^−2)	DF
Acrylonitrile	–	Without decon	67.0 ± 20.0	–
	5	2% soapy water	9.7 ± 1.1***	7
	15	2% soapy water	17.6 ± 0.8**	4
2-Butoxyethanol	–	Without decon	25.3 ± 2.8	–
	5	2% soapy water	3.3 ± 1.1***	8
	15	2% soapy water	5.5 ± 1.0***	5
	45	2% soapy water	7.1 ± 2.1***	4
	120	2% soapy water	20.4 ± 3.4	1
Ethyl lactate	–	Without decon	12.4 ± 1.7	–
	5	2% soapy water	0.8 ± 0.2***	16
	15	2% soapy water	1.9 ± 0.6***	7
	45	2% soapy water	2.3 ± 0.2***	5
	120	2% soapy water	5.4 ± 0.3***	2
Methyl salicylate	–	Without decon	11.8 ± 1.3	–
	5	2% soapy water	1.9 ± 0.2***	6
	15	2% soapy water	2.7 ± 0.7***	4
	45	2% soapy water	4.7 ± 0.5***	2
	120	2% soapy water	5.7 ± 0.6***	2
Tributylamine	–	Without decon	3.9 ± 0.2	–
	5	2% soapy water	1.2 ± 0.1***	3
	15	2% soapy water	1.7 ± 0.1***	2
	45	2% soapy water	1.8 ± 0.3***	2
	120	2% soapy water	2.3 ± 0.3*	2

Chemicals were exposed in a neat agent concentration. Decontamination was performed by washing the agent off repeatedly 10 times with soapy water. The decontamination factor (DF) is indicated for the evaluated procedures (ratio of the mean total cumulative amount without decontamination and the indicated decontamination procedure). The penetration through dermatomed human skin was monitored during 300 min. The results are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 6). *p < 0.05 versus corresponding agent concentration control, **p < 0.01 versus corresponding agent concentration control, ***p < 0.001 versus corresponding agent concentration control (one-way ANOVA).

Figure 3. The penetration rate patterns for the neat agent concentration of (A) acrylonitrile, (B) 2-butoxyethanol, (C) ethyl lactate, (D) methyl salicylate, and (E) tributylamine following soapy water decontamination. Decontamination was initiated after 5 min (open orange), 15 min (closed orange), 45 min (open red), 2 h (closed red) and without decontamination (black). Control line is the top line for all chemicals and the time points follow the order by which decontamination was initiated. Values are presented as the mean ± the SEM (n = 6). *p < 0.05 indicates significantly decreased penetration rate from the indicated time-point to the end of the experiment compared to experiment without decontamination.

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