Effects on the Skin

Contact with either vapour or liquid SM produces a eharaeteristie effeet on human skin that has previously been described in many publieations and in Chapter 2 of this Volume and Chapter 4 of Volume 2. Briefly, after a lateney period that is longer at lower doses, the first effects observed are those associated with inflammation. The skin goes red (erythema) due to vasodilation in the affected area. At low doses this may be the only effeet or may be followed by dry desquamation of the area some days later. At higher doses the 

Human volunteers have been exposed to SM vapour, either whole body or on selected regions of the body, normally the arm. In addition, whole body exposures have been undertaken in a controlled chamber environment and in the field, under a variety of climatic conditions. Exposures in chambers are more accurate, because, although the field trials may have used vapour capture devices to sample the air, the variation in vapour concentration during the exposure could not be accounted for. 

There was a marked variation in the amount of time it took to produce a burn with saturated vapour ( = 54) and coloured skin seemed to be less susceptible than white skin. Reaction times of between 1 and 600 seconds were recorded and their distribution approximates to a log-normal distribution. 

These figures must be interpreted with some caution. The authors comment on differences in the vesicating potency of different batches of SM, probably due to differences in the purity of the agent, which was not analytically confirmed. 

None of those in exposure 1 (40.9 mg min m ) showed a reaction, the most severe reaction in exposures 2 and 3 (70 and 68 mg min m ) was a raised erythema and some pigmentation, whilst exposure 4 (116.6 mg min m ) produced nothing more than a trace erythema of the hand. 

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It is also possible to deflect uv radiation by physically blocking the radiation using an opaque makeup product. A low particle size titanium dioxide can reflect uv light without the undesirable whitening effect on the skin that often results from products containing, for example, zinc oxide or regular grades of titanium dioxide. 

Here the TEWL-value measurements showed that Kujalnik peloids and magnesium pelobischofite complex salutary potentize each other in their mixtures and provide the effective preservation of acidic mantle of the skin. Besides, the pelobischofite addition to the cosmetic cream compositions results in the effective coverlet moistening. Also, the pelobischofite addition provides the decrease of the negative surfactants effect on the skin health. The TWL parameter value is less by half, the water balance of the skin is normalized and the wrinkled skin becomes smoothed out and velvety. 

Allyl chloride is a colorless liquid, insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents. It has a strong pungent odor and an irritating effect on the skin. As a chemical, allyl chloride is used to make allyl alcohol, glycerol, and epichlorohydrin. 

Nontoxic effect on the skin flora was found by Schafer, which means that these amidether carboxylates can be well used in products which remain on the skin for a longer period [80]. A laurylamidether carboxylate based on digly-colamine has been described for the use in syndet soap with high mildness and good foaming effect [36]. 

Schafer [80] concluded that amidether carboxylates have no toxic effects on the skin flora, which means that these products can be safely used in formulations which stay on the skin. 

The cooling sensation experienced after applying a cosmetic cold cream on one s skin is the result of the evaporation of an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) contained in the cold cream. Formulators of skin products include ethanol to achieve a variety of benefits. For example, alcohol enhances the ability of the components in the cold cream to dissolve. For the consumer, the presence of alcohol eases the application of the cream on the skin, enhances the perfume quality of the mixture, and provides a cooling effect on the skin. 

Wright, Z.M., et al., Vehicle effects on the skin sensitizing potency of four chemicals assessment using the local lymph node assay. Ini. J. Cosmetic Sci., 23, 75. 

Caution Arsine is a flammable and highly toxic gas that does not provide adequate warning of hazardous levels. Inhalation is the major route of arsine exposure, although there is little information about absorption through the skin or toxic effects on the skin or eyes. Contact with liquid arsine may result in frostbite. 

Hydrogen cyanide is moderately lipid-soluble, which, along with its small size, allows it to rapidly cross mucous membranes, to be taken up instantly after inhalation, and to penetrate the epidermis. In addition, some cyanide compounds, such as potassium cyanide, have a corrosive effect on the skin that can increase the rate of percutaneous absorption (NIOSH 1976). Information regarding dermal absorption in animals and evidence that cyanide can be absorbed through the skin of humans is provided in Sections 2.3.1.3 and 2.2.3, respectively. 

In Japan, a number of years ago, a terrorist attack with sarin killed a dozen individuals confined to a subway car out of roughly a thousand people in the nearby vicinity. Sarin has little effect on the skin, due to rapid evaporation. It is true that the Iraqis killed many Kurds with nerve gas, but the victims were unprepared, had no training, no detection devices, no masks or other protection, no antidote and no practical way to avoid the gas. None of these vulnerabilities would be the case in a conflict with American troops. 

Substances, which are skin or eye irritating or corrosive after single exposure (Section 4.5) should be suspected of inducing local effects upon repeated respiratory exposure to low concentrations. In contrast, local effects reported from skin sensitization studies as well as dermal repeated dose toxicity studies are not predictive of local effects on the respiratory tract. In addition, observations from irritation and/or sensitization studies as well as repeated dose inhalation toxicity studies are not predictive of local effects on the skin upon repeated dermal exposure (EC 2003). 

Liquid hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen cyanide in aqueous solution (hydrocyanic acid), and concentrated vapor are absorbed rapidly through the intact skin and may cause poisoning with little or no irritant effect on the skin itself. The liquid in the eye may cause some local irritation the attendant absorption may be hazardous. ... 

By analogy to effects on the skin caused by other severe irritants, repeated or prolonged exposure is expected to cause dermatitis. 

Toxicology. Pentachlorophenol has been reported to have adverse effects on the skin, eyes, respiratory system, nervous system, hematopoietic system, kidney, and liver at high doses it is fetotoxic to rats and it is carcinogenic to mice. 

In an experiment on humans to evaluate the primary skin irritating and skin sensitizing potential of ronnel, 50 subjects received three applications/week for 3 weeks of gauze saturated with a 10% suspension of ronnel in sesame oil there were no significant effects on the skin. ... 

Ecoflex (powder) was tested for its sensitizing effect on the skin of the guinea pig in the modified Buehler test according to OECD guideline 406. Skin-sensitizing effects were not observed in these animal studies. 

Skin moisturizing products should be carefully assessed for compatibility with any topical antimicrobial products being used and for physiological effects on the skin. 

In a study of intermediate duration, dermal application of 0.5% p-cresol for 6 weeks produced permanent depigmentation of the skin and hair of mice (Shelley 1974). A caustic effect on the skin was noted in one strain of mouse, but not another. Neither o- nor m-cresol produced any color change in the mice. The author suggests that only p-cresol is active because it mimics the structure of tyrosine, the amino acid present in melanin, so that tyrosinase acts on it, liberating free radicals that damage melanocytes. NOAEL and LOAEL values were not derived from this study because the applied dose was not reported. 

Effects on the skin were observed in rats treated dermally with 40 mg nickel/kg/day as nickel sulfate for 15 or 30 days (Mathur et al. 1977). The effects included distortion of the epidermis and dermis after 15 days and hyperkeratinization, vacuolization, hydropic degeneration of the basal layer, and atrophy of the epidermis at 30 days. Biochemical changes in the skin (enzymatic changes, increased lipid peroxidation, and an increase in the content of sulfhydryl groups and amino nitrogen) were observed in... 

Truhaut R, Dutertre-Catella H, Phu-Lich N, Daunet J. 1972. [Toxicity of an industrial solvent, isophorone irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes.] Eur J Toxicol 5(1) 31-37. (French)... 

In animal tests various doses of a chemical are administered to a population of laboratory animals in one of a number of ways (for example orally, by application to the skin or by inhalation) in single or repeated doses. During or at the end of the test the animals are examined for the end point of the test. This is the type of harm that the test is designed to investigate, such as effects on the skin, the appearance of tumours, indications of damage to the nervous system, effects on reproduction or death. A positive result in such tests is considered to be evidence that the chemical causes harm, but what it actually shows is only that it causes harm... 

Swatschek, D., Schatton, W., Kellermann, J., Mullaer, W. E. G., and Kreuter, J. (2002). Marine sponge collagen Isolation, characterization and effects on the skin parameters surface-pH, moisture and sebum. Eur. ]. Pharm. Biopharm. 53,107-113. 

Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of Dichlorobenzenes, can produce paralysis of the central nervous system, and also damage the liver. These compds have local irritant effects on the skin. The recommended MAC of o-dich loro benzene is 50ppm (by vol). Long exposure to the p-deriv is reported capable of producing cataracts (Ref 6)... 

Cadmium pigments have no acute toxic effect (oral LD50, rat, > 10 g/kg). The pigments do not have any adverse effects on the skin and mucous membranes. 

Tamoxifen has several adverse effects on the skin, including edema, flushing, rashes, hyperhidrosis, urticaria, alopecia, and hypertrichosis. Radiation recall dermatitis, a severe painful inflammatory skin reaction in sites that have previously been exposed to ionized radiation, can occur in patients taking tamoxifen (59). In one case the tamoxifen was withdrawn and the skin healed spontaneously in 7 weeks (60). Toremifene, a tamoxifen analogue, was well tolerated during 18 months of continuous treatment no signs of radiation recall developed. 

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