Percutaneous Penetration of Benzene and Benzene Contained in Solvents Used in the Rubber Industry

Abstract

Penetration of benzene through the skin of the rhesus monkey was determined using ¹⁴C-benzene, and quantitating the labelled metabolites in urine. The modes of application and amounts of benzene that penetrated the skin (indicated in parentheses) are as follows: (1) a single, direct cutaneous application of liquid benzene (0.172 ± 0.139%); (2) a single application of benzene-containing [0.36%] solvent (0.0805 ± 0.0306%); (3) multiple washes with full-strength benzene (0.848.± 0.0806%); (4) multiple washes with the benzene-containing [035%] solvent (0.431 ± 0.258%); (5) removal of the stratum corneum followed by application of full-strength benzene (0.909 ± 0.627%); and (6) application of benzene to the palmar surface (0.651 ± 0.482%). Until more complete human data becomes available, benzene penetration in the monkey may be used to estimate penetration in man, both for Industrial hygiene purposes and general toxicological use.