The levels of kerosene components in biological samples after repeated dermal exposure to kerosene in rats

Evaluation of skin irritation following weathered crude oil exposure in two mouse strains

Petroleum crude oil spills are common and vary in size and scope. Spill response workers throughout the course of remediation are exposed to so-called weathered oil and are known to report diverse health effects, including contact dermatitis. A murine model of repeated exposure to weathered marine crude oil was employed utilizing two strains of mice, C57BL/6 and BALB/c, to investigate the pathology of this irritant and identify the principal hydrocarbon components deposited in skin. Histopathology demonstrated clear signs of irritation in oil-exposed skin from both mouse strains, characterized by prominent epidermal hyperplasia (acanthosis). BALB/c mice exposed to oil demonstrated more pronounced irritation compared with C57BL/6 mice, which was characterized by increased acanthosis as well as increased inflammatory cytokine/chemokine protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, and CCL11. A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method was developed for the identification and quantification of 42 aliphatic and EPA priority aromatic hydrocarbons from full thickness skin samples of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice exposed to oil samples. Aromatic hydrocarbons were not detected in skin; however, aliphatic hydrocarbons in skin tended to accumulate with carbon numbers greater than C16. These preliminary data and observations suggest that weathered crude oil is a skin irritant and this may be related to specific hydrocarbon components, although immune phenotype appears to impact skin response as well.

Percutaneous absorption and skin irritation upon low-level prolonged dermal exposure to nonane, dodecane and tetradecane in hairless rats

Even though the dermal toxicity of hydrocarbon fuels has been well established in the literature, there is little information available on the dermal penetration kinetics and irritation potential of the individual hydrocarbons. The penetration and skin retention of nonane, dodecane and tetradecane was assessed in vitro using hairless rats’ skin. The effects of unocclusive dermal exposures of these chemicals (15 mL every 2 h for 8 h a day for four days) on the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema were measured in CD hairless rats. The expression of interleukin 1a (IL-1a) and TNF-a in the skin and blood were measured at the end of dermal exposures. The flux of dodecane was 3- and 77-fold higher than nonane and tetradecane. The retention of chemicals in stratum corneum (SC) was in the order of tetradecane-dodecane-nonane, and directly correlated to the log Kp (r2-0.9900) and molecular weight of the chemicals (r2-0.8782). The TEWL and erythema data indicate that irritation was in the following order: tetradecane-dodecane-nonane. Likewise, the expression of IL-1a in the blood and TNF-a in the skin after dermal exposures was higher for tetradecane followed by dodecane and nonane compared to control. In conclusion, the aliphatic hydrocarbon chemicals of the present study induced cumulative irritation upon low-level repeat exposures for a four-day period. The affinity of the chemicals to SC and their gradual accumulation in the skin in the present study is the probable cause for the differences in the skin irritation profiles of different aliphatic chemicals. The findings of the present study will be helpful in understanding the skin irritation response of the chemicals in humans; indeed the reality check arises from dermal exposures in humans and human experience in occupational handling of these chemicals.

Dermal lesions after post mortem petrol-exposure

The effect of post mortem contact of the skin with petrol was investigated in 18 corpses with exposure times between 10 min and 24 h. The earliest onset of skin changes was observed within 2 h of exposure. They consisted of swelling and wrinkling with detachment of the upper layers of the skin (positive Nikolski's sign). Histologically the lesions appeared as non-vital acantholyses located in the prickle-cell layer with formation of intra-epidermal bullae. An influence of age and sex could be excluded, the earlier onset of lesions at 22 degrees C than at 4 degrees C was not statistically significant. These findings prove that post mortem petrol exposure may lead to dermal lesions.

Skin analysis to determine causative agent in dermal exposure to petroleum products

This study evaluates the usefulness of skin analysis to determine the causative agent in cases of dermal exposure. The study consists of an animal experiment and two human cases. The petroleum components detected at high concentrations in skin samples resembled the composition of those in the corresponding petroleum products. However, the petroleum components in blood were detected at low concentrations and were a different composition. Skin is considered to be an advantageous sample to estimate the petroleum product in clinical and forensic cases of dermal exposure.