On Dermal Exposure Assessment

Hazardous chemicals may enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, injection or dermal absorption. These exposure routes constitute the overall exposure burden on the body. Most occupational exposure studies have focused on measurement of the concentration of airborne contaminants and other possible routes of exposure are often overlooked. Several studies have already highlighted the importance of dermal absorption. However, less development occurred in the assessment of dermal exposures to occupational and environmental contaminants compared to air sampling techniques. This paper intends to highlight the importance of dermal exposure and looks at the methods currently used for its assessment. Advantages and disadvantages of each method in the context of occupational dermal exposure assessment are also outlined. Dermal exposure models, as an easy-to-use and low-cost tool to predict dermal uptake, especially when few or no actual data are available, are also included in this review.