Penetration of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol through human skin

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Abstract
Penta and tetrachlorophenol are widely used wood preservatives which have received increasing regulatory attention form EPA and OSHA. While primary concerns have focused on dioxin contaminant levels there has been considerable controversy over the risks associated with predermal penetration: both in the workplace and environment. Based on very limited acute dose rate experiments, the EPA has estimated dermal penetration of 50% for pentachlorophenol inorganic solutions (typically diesel oil) and 1% for aqueous sodium pentachlorophenate solutions. No estimates are available for tetrachlorophenol. Utilizing human cadaver skin and a validated skin permeation test protocol, departmental investigators have investigated skin penetration of commercial preparations of penta and tetrachlorophenol. The results show penetration of diesel oil preparations to be 62% for pentachlorophenol and 63% for tetrachlorophenol. In the case of an aqueous based commercial preparation penetration was found to be 16% for sodium pentachlorphenate and 33% for sodium tetrachlorophenate. The results for aqueous penetration are much higher than the EPA''s estimates of 1% penetration indicating a considerably higher risk of dermal penetration.