Dermal absorption and penetration of jet fuel components in humans

Jet propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) is the largest source of chemical exposures on military bases. Dermal exposure to JP-8 has been investigated in vitro using rat or pig skin, but not in vivo in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the absorption and penetration of aromatic and aliphatic components of JP-8 in humans. A surface area of 20 cm(2) was delineated on the forearms of human volunteers and 1 ml of JP-8 was applied to the skin. Tape-strip samples were collected 30 min after application. Blood samples were taken before exposure (t=0 h), after exposure (t=0.5 h), and every 0.5 h for up to 4 h past exposure. The tape-strip samples showed evidence of uptake into the skin for all JP-8 components. The blood data was used to estimate an apparent permeability coefficient (K-P). The rank order of the apparent K-P was naphthalene > 1-methyl naphthalene =2-methyl naphthalene > decane > dodecane > undecane. This rank order is similar to results from rat and pig-skin studies. However, this study demonstrates that rat and pig models of the skin over predict the internal dose of JP-8 components in humans. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.