Abstract
A series of human absorption experiments was conducted in which the skin of the hands was exposed to carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, methylene chloride, or 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The amount of the compound in the alveolar air during the skin exposure and in the postexposure period was determined using gas chromatographic methods. The significance of the skin exposure was estimated by comparing the concentration of the solvent in the alveolar breath following the skin exposure with previously obtained data of the alveolar breath concentration following a vapor exposure to a known concentration of the solvent. The amount of solvent penetrating the skin was related to the area of skin exposed, the method of application to the surface of the skin, the type of skin exposed, and the duration of exposure.
