Dermal exposure and risk assessment
Résumé
Dermal exposure could occur in workers, even if protections are usually used, or in general population, depending of the chemicals, exposure duration or frequency, and other conditions of the occurrence. Skin provides an efficient barrier protecting the body against chemicals, but some chemicals could have local effects by direct contact with the skin and others could cross the skin and produce systemic effects. Dermal exposure in risk assessment depends on the regulatory context and is reasonably addressed under e.g. REACH, biocides, plant protection products regulations but might be underestimated in regulation on polluted sites and soils or on industrial installations listed for environmental protection. For the later, we have conducted two separates surveys for workers and for the general population. Results show that there are some cases where dermal exposure could occur and that needs to be consider. For workers, in most of the cases substances are known and specific protection could be use. The residual conditions where exposure takes place can be assessed with limited adaptation of existing scenarios. For general population, dermal exposure occurred via the environment and the substances in the matrix are usually unknown. Several types of exposure like gardening, bathing or swimming, gaming in polluted areas could be worrisome especially if they are frequent and requires an appropriate assessment. The results of the study have allowed identifying the principal situations where dermal exposure assessment is needed to proportionally and adequately protect human health from local or systemic effects. This study is founded by RECORD.