CORRELATION OF FLUORESCENCE INTENSITY AND CARCINOGENIC POTENCY OF SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL PETROLEUMS IN MOUSE SKIN

After standardized topical exposure of mouse skin to synthetic and natural petroleums, the penetration and persistence of the fluorescent components have been quantitated. Carcinogenicity of the same materials was determined by repeated skin application followed by a period without treatment to allow expression of malignantly transformed epidermal cells. No simple correlation was found for the materials between total specific fluorescence in either tissue or the test tube and their observed capacity to elicit skin necrosis or malignancy. The number of test materials was insufficient to allow generalization; however, the results do suggest that before fluorescence can be effectively employed as a tool for assessing potential occupational exposure to complex hydrocarbon mixtures, considerable refinement of the methodology will.be required. Copyright 1979, American Industrial Hygiene Association