Bioavailability of Soil-Bound TCDD: Oral Bioavailability in the Rat

Bioavailability of Soil-Bound TCDD: Oral Bioavailability inthe Rat. SHU, H., PAUSTENBACH, D., MURRAY, F. J., MARPLE, L.,BRUNCK, B., DEI ROSSI, D., TEITELBAUM, P. (1988). Fundam ApplToxicol. 10, 648–654. The implications to the public healthof trace amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the environment are underevaluation by regulatory agencies in the United States and WesternEurope. One major consideration in such evaluations is the contributionto human exposure via ingestion of TCDD-contaminated soil. An80% figure is under consideration by some regulators for estimatedhuman exposure. A contractor for one agency has, in fact, useda value of 1007% bioavailability for estimating human bioavailability.Several studies have investigated the oral bioavailability ofTCDD from contaminated soil in animals. Most have reported estimatesof 25–50%, although one has reported <0.5 and 85%,depending on the source of the contaminated soil. This paperreports an oral bioavailability of approximately 43% in therat dosed with three environmentally contaminated soil samplesfrom Times Beach, Missouri. This figure did not change significantlyover a 500-fold dose range of 2 to 1450 ng TCDD/kg of body weightfor soil contaminated with approximately 2, 30, or 600 ppb ofTCDD. The relevance of animal oral bioavailability data forthe human remains to be evaluated. However, since regulatoryagencies use animal data for extrapolating to humans, the 43%or 25–50% figure would be more accurate than the 80 or100% estimates.     

Absorption of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) after low dose dermal exposure

Human dermal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) occurs through contact with soil and paper products. In a previous study, relative percutaneous absorption of TCDD increased as the dose decreased (Brewster et al., 1989). To determine the rate of absorption of a low dose of TCDD, absorption, distribution, and elimination were examined at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 hr after dermal application of 200 pmol (111 pmol/cm2) [3H]TCDD to 10-week-old male Fischer 344 rats. The compound was applied over a 1.8 cm2 area of the interscapular region of the back in 60 microliters acetone and covered with a perforated cap; animals were held in individual metabolism cages. Within 120 hr after dosing, 82 pmol (26 ng) of TCDD was absorbed. Absorption kinetics appeared to be first-order; the absorption rate constant was 0.005 hr-1. At each time point, greater than 70% of the radioactivity detected in the application site could be removed by swabbing with acetone. The time-related increase in the amount of TCDD in liver and fat closely paralleled the amount absorbed, while the percentage of the administered dose detected in the blood was never greater than 0.3%. Thus, absorption of a low dose of TCDD through the skin is extremely slow and appears to be a first-order process.     

Bioavailability and cytochrome P-450 induction from 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin contaminated soils from Times Beach, Missouri, and Newark, New Jersey

Bioavailability of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) from contaminated soils from Times Beach, Missouri and Newark, New Jersey, was examined using liver concentrations and toxicity in guinea pigs observed up to 60 days following a single oral administration, and induction of cytochrome P-450 in rats sacrificed 24 hours after a single oral dose as endpoints. Both soils are contaminated with several chlorinated dioxins and numerous other compounds. Times Beach soil resulted in greater TCDD concentration in liver and TCDD was considerably more bioavailable from Times Beach soil than from Newark soil. However, both soils induced cytochrome P-450 activity to approximately the same extent. Moreover, similar banding patterns of microsomal proteins were seen on polyacrylamide electrophoretic gels. The many other compounds present in the soils, particularly in Newark, may account for the similar protein bands and levels of cytochrome P-450 observed.     

Pulmonary Bioavailability and Fine Particle Enrichment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Respirable Soil Particles

The pulmonary bioavailability of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) and the enrichment of polychlorinated dioxins (PCDDs)and furans (PCDFs) in fine particles were evaluated to assessthe implications that these factors have on risk and exposureassessments. Respirable subfractions of PCDD-contaminated soilfrom a former 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid manufacturingsite were isolated by chemical dispersion and gravity sedimentation.Analysis of the subfractions revealed that there was a size-dependentenrichment of PCDDs and PCDFs, with smaller particles more highlycontaminated. TCDD was enriched up to 33-fold as compared tounfractionated soil. Soil and laboratory-recontaminated galliumoxide, which served as the positive control, were administeredby intratracheal instillation to female Sprague-Dawley rats.Animals were terminated up to 28 days following treatment andpulmonary bioavailability of TCDD was assessed by hepatic enzymeinduction and TCDD concentration. Enzyme induction was dependenton the duration of exposure with up to 56 and 918% increasesin cytochrome P450 and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity,respectively, following exposure to PCDD-contaminated soil.There was no significant difference in AHH induction betweenanimals which received contaminated soil and those treated withthe positive control. Hepatic concentration of TCDD in soil-exposedrats was 115, 101, and 179% of positive controls at 1, 7, and28 days post-treatment, suggesting that the soil or co-contaminantsinfluenced retention of TCDD in the liver. These data indicatethat the relative pulmonary bioavailability of TCDD on respirablesoil particles is 100% as compared to laboratory-recontaminatedgallium oxide and that PCDDs and PCDFs are highly enriched onrespirable particles. Utilization of these results will reducethe uncertainty and improve the accuracy of envi ronmental riskassessments of PCDDs and PCDFs.     

Hepatic Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase and Cytochrome P450 Induction following the Transpulmonary Absorption of TCDD from Intratracheally Instilled Particles

Hepatic Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase and Cytochrome P450 Inductionfollowing the Transpulmonary Absorption of TCDD from IntratracheallyInstilled Particles. NESSEL, C. S., AMORUSO, M. A., UMBREIT,T. H., AND GALLO, M. A. (1990). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 15, 500-509.Inhalation of particles contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) will be an increasingly important route of human exposurein light of the increased utilization of municipal waste incinerationand the resultant emission of contaminated materials into theenvironment. The potential for pulmonary absorption of the compoundfrom respirable particles was assessed in the present studyfollowing the intratracheal instillation of TCDD (1) as a contaminantof gallium oxide particles and (2) in a corn oil vehicle. Groupsof five female Sprague-Dawley rats received 0, 0.005, 0.055,0.55, or 5.5 µg/kg TCDD in a single instillation and wereeuthanized 4 days later. Absorption was characterized by enzymeinduction [aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and totalcytochrome P450] and histopathological examination of the liver.Induction of hepatic enzymes was dose-dependent with both treatmentregimes. Up to an 18-fold increase in AHH and an 80% increasein cytochrome P450 were observed in treated animals. Inductionwas slightly higher when animals received TCDD in com oil thanwhen animals received TCDD-contaminated particles and was relativelycomparable to induction following oral exposure. Similar resultswere obtained when animals were treated with particles contaminatedup to 4 weeks prior to instillation. Characteristics of TCDD-inducedhepatotoxicity, including enlarged hepatocytes and fatty infiltration,were apparent in treated rats, but were not present in vehicle-instilledanimals. These results indicate that systemic effects occurfollowing pulmonary exposure to TCDD and that inhalation maybe an important route Of exposure for TCDD.     

Age-Related Changes in Dermal Absorption of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran

Age-Related Changes in Dermal Absorption of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxinand 2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran. BANKS, Y. B., BREWSTER,D. W., AND BIRNBAUM, L. S. (1990). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 15,163–173. Changes in the structure and function of agedskin may alter percutaneous absorption of environmental compoundssuch as the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (4PeCDF) were previouslyfound to be poorly absorbed in 3 month male Fischer 344 ratswithin 3 days after dermal administration. In order to examineage-related changes in dermal absorption and changes in potentialfor systemic exposure, the absorption, distribution, and eliminationof TCDD and 4PeCDF were examined in male Fischer 344 rats ofvarious ages (TCDD: 10, 36, and 96 week; 4PeCDF: 10, 36, 64,96, and 120 week). Each compound was applied at a dose of 0.1µmol/kg and/or 0.04 µmol in 60 µ1 acetoneto a preclipped region of the back and covered with a stainless-steelperforated cap. Rats were housed in individual metabolism cagesfor 3 days. Dermal absorption of both compounds was decreasedin older age groups compared to 10 week rats. The major tissuedepots for both compounds were liver, adipose, skin, and muscleand in comparable age groups, the liver.fat ratio was greaterin 4PeCDF-treated animals. Age-related changes in the distributionof the administered dose and the absorbed dose varied with thecompound as well as the depot. Elimination of TCDD and 4PeCDFwas limited at all ages. Results indicate that percutaneousabsorption of these compounds is decreased in older animals,suggesting that systemic bioavailability may be decreased inolder organisms following dermal exposure to TCDD or 4PeCDF.     

Ingestion of Soil Contaminated with 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Alters Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Rats

Ingestion of Soil Contaminated with 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) Alters Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Rats. LUCIER, G.W., RUMBAUGH, R. C., MCCOY, Z., HASS, R., HARVAN, D., AND ALBRO,P. (1986). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 6, 36.4–371. Femalerats were treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)in either corn oil or contaminated soil from the Minker sitein Missouri. Eight doses ranging from 0.015 to 5 µg TCDD/kgwere used in the corn oil group; the range was 0.015 to 5.5TCDD/kg in the TCDD-contaminated soil group. Rats in a thirdgroup were given equal amounts of soil uncontaminated with TCDD.No acute toxicity or effects on body weight gain were observedat these doses. In general, equivalent doses of TCDD in cornoil or TCDD in soil produced similar increases in hepatic arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity (AHH) and UDP glucuronyltransferaseactivity although effects were slightly greater in the TCDD–cornoil groups. In the corn oil groups, the induction of AHH rangedfrom about 30-fold at the highest dose to twofold at the lowestdose studied. TCDD also caused an increase in cytochrome P-450concentration and a shift in spectral peak from 450 to 448 nm.There was no effect of TCDD on ethylmorphine N-demethylase,consistent with previous reports. Liver concentrations of TCDD(mean ± SD) in the 5-µg/kg groups were 40.8 ±6.3 ppb in the TCDD- corn oil group and 20.3 ± 12.9 ppbin the TCDD-contaminated soil group. Our results suggest thatthe bioavailability of TCDD in soil in rats is approximately50%. Therefore, ingestional exposure to TCDD-contaminated soilmay constitute a significant health hazard in view of its extremelyhigh toxicity and relatively high bioavailability.     

Recent developments on the hazards posed by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in soil: implications for setting risk-based cleanup levels at residential and industrial sites.

Since the publication of the Times Beach risk assessment in 1984, which suggested that residential soils were of concern when the level of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was in excess of 1 ppb, there has been continued interest in this topic. Studies conducted within the past 5 yr on the environmental and toxicological behavior of TCDD, as well as refinement of parameters regarding human exposure, indicate that previous assessments of the risk to humans posed by TCDD-contaminated soil were overestimated. In this paper, recent information drawn from nearly 100 recently published articles regarding the histopathology interpretation of the Kociba bioassay, environmental fate and half-life of TCDD in soil, and estimates of human exposure via soil ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation, surface runoff, and the consumption of fish were incorporated into a risk assessment. Cleanup levels for TCDD in residential and industrial soils were calculated based on most likely exposure scenarios. Probability distributions of key exposure parameters were incorporated into a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis to predict the range and probability of TCDD uptake and corresponding cleanup levels in soil. This analysis demonstrated that the most significant route of human exposure to TCDD is through dermal contact with soil, followed by soil ingestion, fish consumption, and inhalation of airborne particulates. At residential sites, soils containing 20 parts per billion (ppb) of TCDD were found to pose a lifetime cancer risk no greater than 1 in 100,000 (10(-5) risk) under typical exposure conditions. Based on the Monte Carlo analysis, soil concentrations for the 75th and 95th percentile person were 12 and 7 ppb (10(-5) risk), respectively. In industrial soils, TCDD concentrations ranged between 131 and 582 ppb (10(-5) risk), depending on the amount of time spent outdoors under typical exposure conditions. Industrial soil concentrations of approximately 93 and 46 ppb (10(-5) risk) were calculated for the 75th and 95th percentile worker, respectively, engaged in outdoor activities. The range of TCDD concentrations in industrial soils was not reduced significantly when the consumption of fish from a neighboring waterway by off-site receptors was considered. While cleanup levels for TCDD should be derived on a site-specific basis, this analysis indicated that soil cleanup standards can be generally higher than those implemented over the past 8 yr.     

Age-Related Percutaneous Penetration of 2-sec-Butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (Dinoseb) in Rats

[¹⁴C]Dinoseb was applied to previously clipped back skin of33- and 82-day-old female Fischer 344 rats at a dosage rangeof 210–2680 nmol/cm². Radioactivity in the treated skin,tissues, urine, and feces was determined at 1, 6, 24, 48, 72,and 120 hr following dermal application. In vitro dermal absorptionof [¹⁴C]dinoseb was also measured in rats of the same age bystatic and flow-through methods. In vivo dermal absorption inboth young and adults appeared biphasic with 55.6 and 82.7%of the recovered dose, respectively, penetrating in 72 hr. Invitro measurements of skin absorption at 72 hr with static cellsshowed higher values in young and lower values in the adultcompared to in vivo dermal absorption values, In vitro flow-throughmeasurements at 72 hr gave lower dermal absorption values forboth young and adult rats, compared to In vivo values. Followingin vivo application, adults excreted about 70% of the totalrecovered dose in urine, 16% in feces, and retained 7% in thebody at 120 hr. HPLC analysis of urine collected at 24 hr fromadults administered [¹⁴C]dinoseb showed extensive metabolismof parent. Excretion and retention results for young were about80% of the adult values, which also was the young to adult ratioof dermal penetration. Blood had the highest concentration ofdinoseb-derived radioactivity of the tissues examined. The kidneyto blood ratio averaged 0.60 in young and 0.41 in adults, whilethe liver and carcass to blood ratio averaged 0.18 in youngand 0.11 in adult. Dermal absorption in young rats was slightlyless than that in adults, and the subsequent kinetics of retentionand excretion appeared different, In vitro dermal penetrationof dinoseb was usually lower than In vivo absorption.     

In Vivo and in Vitro Percutaneous Absorption and Skin Evaporation of Isofenphos in Man

Studies were done to determine the percutaneous absorption ofisofenphos in human volunteers from whom informed consent hadbeen obtained. In vivo absorption in man was 3.6±3.6%of applied dose for 24-hr exposure and 3.6±0.5% for 72-hrexposure. Skin wash recovery data show that isofenphos evaporatesfrom in vivo skin during the absorption process; the surfacedose is minimal (<1%) by 24 hr. Skin stripping showed noresidual isofenphos in stratum corneum. This explains the similarabsorption for 24 and 72-hr dose prewash exposures. Skin surfacerecovery in vivo with soap and water was 61.4±10.4 forthe first dosing time (15 mm). Time-recovery response declinedwith time to 0.5±0.2% at 24 hr. In vitro absorption utilizingflow-through diffusion methodology with human cadaver skin andhuman plasma receptor fluid gave 2.5±2.0% dose absorbed,an amount similar to In vivo studies. An additional 6.5±24%was recovered in the skin samples (total of 9%). Skin surfacewash at 24 hr recovered 79.7±2.2% and skin content was6.5±2.4% (total dose accountability of 88.7±4.6%).Thus, isofenphos was available for absorption during the wholedosing period. Neither in vitro absorption nor in vitro evaporationstudies predicted the potential skin evaporation of isofenphos.Published dermal studies in the rat had predicted isofenphosabsorption at 47% of applied dose (12-fold greater than actualin man). Subsequent toxicokinetic modeling predicted possibleconcern with the use of isofenphos. This is an example wherethe choice of the rat produced a nonrelevant absorption prediction.In vivo studies in human volunteers seem more relevant for predictingpercutaneous absorption in man.     

Development and application of a skin cancer slope factor for exposures to benzo[a]pyrene in soil

Humans may be dermally exposed to the carcinogenic substance benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) via contact with soil at contaminated sites. The potential for risk is typically assessed using the proportion of dose estimated to penetrate through exposed skin for comparison with an oral route slope factor. An alternate dermal slope factor of 25 (mg/kg day)(-1) was previously developed (Knafla et al., 2006) based on skin carcinogenicity, since skin painting studies with mice suggest the formation of epidermal tumors may be a more sensitive endpoint than systemic tumors following dermal exposure. An extension of this work resulted in a skin cancer slope factor derived on a per unit skin surface area basis of 3.5 (μg/cm(2)day)(-1) that can be used to estimate risk as a function of exposed surface area. Various factors were examined for interspecies extrapolation of risks from mice to humans and for estimating skin exposures to B[a]P in soil. Using a nominal soil concentration of 1.0mg/kg, a range of cancer risk values of 29-220 in 100,000 was calculated. Soil concentrations associated with a one in 100,000 risk ranged from 0.0046 to 0.035 μg/g, which are lower than those derived using an oral slope factor. These results suggest that B[a]P-related skin cancer (point of contact) risks should be considered at contaminated sites.     

Effect of TCDD on the density of Langerhans cells in murine skin

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a prototype for a group of toxic polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. We have studied the effect of TCDD on skin, specifically the difference in cutaneous response of congenic haired (hr/+) and hairless (hr/hr) mice. Topical application of 0.6 microgram of TCDD induces epidermal hyperplasia/hyperkeratinization in the skin of hr/hr mice, but does not affect the epidermis of congenic hr/+ littermates. Suppression of various parameters of the immune response has been found to be another effect of TCDD exposure in experimental animals. In the present study, we investigated the effect of topical treatment with TCDD on the density of epidermal immune cells, the Langerhans cells (LC), in the skin of hr/hr and hr/+ mice. Results showed that TCDD-induced epidermal hyperplasia/hyperkeratinization in skin of hr/hr mice is accompanied by an increase in the density of LC. In the skin of hr/+ mice, in which TCDD exposure does not induce hyperplastic changes, LC densities are not affected. The increase in LC densities in TCDD-treated hr/hr mouse skin did not result in increased sensitivity of the skin to contact hypersensitization with dinitrofluorobenzene, as measured by changes in ear thickness. When hr/hr murine skin was grafted into skin of hr/+ mice and the entire dorsal skin (including the graft) treated with TCDD, LC were increased in the grafted skin, but not in the surrounding hr/+ skin. Conversly, when hr/+ murine skin was grafted into hr/hr mice and both treated with TCDD, there was no increase in the density of LC in the grafted hr/+ skin. Concomitant treatment of hairless mice with TCDD and with indomethacin did not affect the increase in the density of LC induced by TCDD treatment alone. These findings suggest that TCDD-induced epidermal changes in hr/hr murine skin involve production of factors which mediate the increase in epidermal LC.     

Preface

While it is well known that concentrated solutions of hydrofluoric acid (HF) are highly corrosive to the skin, very little information is available on exposures to dilute solutions. Dilute aqueous solutions of HF (w/w) were evaluated for dermal toxicity in male albino rabbits using an occlusive patch procedure. A 2% solution of HF was corrosive to rabbit skin when applied topically for durations of 1 and 4 hr. Total serum fluoride levels were markedly elevated at 1 hr following cessation of exposure. The weight of the testes was significantly lower in those rabbits exposed to 2% HF for 4 hr. Dilute solutions of HF (0.01–2%) proved corrosive following exposure durations as short as 5 min. Two percent HF was noncorrosive with 1 min exposure (lesser concentrations were not tested at this time period). The incidence of lesions resulting from exposure to HF solutions of 0.5% or less at exposure durations ranging from 5 min to 60 min was variable and no correlation could be drawn between the severity of the lesions and the exposure duration and HF concentration. The results suggest that marked dermal injury and systemic fluoride poisoning could result to humans following dermal contact with HF solutions at concentrations as low as 2% for durations as short as 1 hr. Solutions of HF at concentrations as low as 0.01% could possibly cause injury to the more sensitive areas of human skin following exposures as short as 5 min.     

Percutaneous absorption of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) from soil

Eight dermal absorption experiments (two in vivo; six in vitro) and one intravenous experiment were conducted using 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) either neat (high dose at approximately 250 microg/cm(2) and low dose at 10 ng/cm(2)) or sorbed on a low organic soil (LOS) or high organic soil (HOS) at 1 ppm (10 ng TCDD/10 mg soil/cm(2)). After 96 h the percent of applied dose absorbed (PADA) for the neat low dose was 78% in vivo (rat) and 76% in vitro (rat). PADA for the equivalent TCDD dose sorbed on LOS were 16.3% (rat in vivo), 7.7% (rat in vitro) and 2.4% (human in vitro). The PADA for TCDD sorbed on HOS (1 ppm) was 1.0% (rat in vitro). Generally, rat skin was observed to be three to four times more permeable to TCDD than human skin. At steady state, the dermal flux of TCDD in neat form, sorbed on LOS at 1 ppm, and sorbed on HOS at 1 ppm (all in vitro, rat) was 120, 0.007, and 0.0007 ng/cm(2)/h, respectively (ratio = 1.7 x 10(5):10:1). Making adjustments to account for differences between in vitro and in vivo results and adjusting for application to monolayer loads, the 24-h TCDD absorption for human skin is estimated as 1.9% from LOS (1 ppm) and 0.24% from HOS (1 ppm).     

Tissue Distribution and Toxicokinetics of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Rats after Intravenous Injection

Tissue Distribution and Toxicokinetics of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxinin Rats after Intravenous Injection. WEBER, L. W. D., ERNST,S. W., STAHL, B. U., AND ROZMAN, K. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.21, 523–534. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (240–290 g) received intravenouslya nonlethal (9.25 µg/kg) or a lethal (72.7 µg/kg)dose of ¹⁴C-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)administered as an emulsion. Animals were euthanized between5 min and 16 days (lethal dose) or 32 days (nonlethal dose)after treatment. Tissue distribution was considered completeafter 24 hr, as by this time radioactivity levels in white adiposetissue had reached a maximum. The highest levels of radioactivitywere found in liver (5% of dose/g tissue), followed by whitefat (1% of dose/g tissue); serum was lowest at 0.01% of dose/mlserum. Relatively high levels of radioactivity were also detectedin most known target organs of TCDD toxicity, e.g., brown fat,adrenals, and thyroid. The pattern of organ distribution ofTCDD was essentially the same after the lethal and the nonlethaldose, but did not follow a simple lipophilicity relationship,as levels in liver were higher than those in white fat, andthose in brain were extremely low. A pool of TCDD in liposomesinitially trapped in lung and spleen was redistributed within24 hr mainly to liver and adipose tissue. Affinity of TCDD tostorage fat seemed to play a more important role as a drivingforce for redistribution than did induction of cytochrome P4501A2. The terminal slope of elimination of TCDD from tissuesindicated a half-life of 16 days after the nonlethal dose. Afterthe lethal dose radioactivity declined in all tissues for 2to 8 days and then increased again, reflecting shrinking tissuevolumes as well as remobilization of TCDD caused by the processof body mass wasting. Distribution data for 17 tissues and serumwere subjected to regression analysis and resulted in up totwo uptake phases and up to three elimination phases for a giventissue. After the nonlethal dose TCDD was mainly excreted viafeces; combined urinary and fecal excretions occurred with abiological half-life of 16.3 ± 3.0 days. Much longerhalf-lives were detected in white fat and skin. After the lethaldose, the fecal excretion of TCDD-derived radioactivity decreasedafter 8 days, and urinary excretion increased starting 12 daysafter dosing. Radioactivity in liver and white fat and the extractableportion in feces was mainly unchanged TCDD, as determined bythin-layer chromatography. Radioactivity in urine indicatedthe presence of a metabolite(s) of TCDD only.     

Penetration,distribution and kinetics of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in human skin in vitro

The in vitro penetration of³H-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) into human cadaver skin was studied at concentrations of 65 and 6.5 ng TCDD per cm² of skin surface. Vehicles used were acetone to simulate exposure to TCDD as a dry material, and mineral oil to simulate exposure to TCDD in an oily medium. Penetration was performed for 30, 100, 300, and 1000 min in improved Franz cells. Skin was used either intact, or with stripped horny layer. Skin was sectioned along its natural layers and radioactivity determined in epidermis and dermis. TCDD did not readily penetrate into human skin in vitro. The vehicle of exposure to TCDD played an important role in dermal penetration. The rapidly evaporating acetone allowed TCDD to penetrate deeply into the loose surface lamellae of the horny layer, but then appeared to be poorly available for further penetration. Mineral oil as the vehicle, on the other hand, represented a lipophilic compartment which competed with lipophilic constituents of the stratum corneum for TCDD and hence slowed its penetration even more. The stratum corneum acted as a protective barrier, as its removal increased the amount of TCDD absorbed into layers of the skin. Hourly rates of absorption of TCDD per unit area of skin were calculated in two ways: a worst case scenario where TCDD absorbed into any layer of skin including the stratum corneum was used for regression analysis; and a physiological approach where only that amount of TCDD was considered absorbed which had penetrated beyond the epidermis into the region of dermal vascularization. Under worst case scenario conditions the stratum corneum appeared to mediate dermal absorption of TCDD, since calculated rates of absorption decreased when skin stripped of its stratum corneum was exposed to TCDD. This was, however, not the case with the physiological approach. There was a consistent relationship between concentration of TCDD applied and concentration of TCDD found in skin. Also, a clear-cut correlation was found between the amount of TCDD that penetrated and the time of exposure. The rate of penetration into intact skin of different concentrations of TCDD from acetone ranged from 100 to 800 pg TCDD per hour and cm² of skin (worst case scenario), or 6 to 170 pg per hour and cm² with the physiological approach. With mineral oil as the vehicle the rate of penetration into intact skin was lower, ranging from 20 to 220 pg and 1.4 to 18 pg, respectively, per hour and cm² of skin. Our results on the distribution of TCDD in human skin also suggest that as yet unknown constituents of epidermis and upper dermis have a somewhat higher affinity towards TCDD than those of the lower dermis.Presented in part at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, Atlanta, GA, 1989     

The Relationship between pKa and Skin Irritation for a Series of Basic Penetrants in Man

The Relationship between pK_a and Skin Irritation for a Seriesof Basic Penetrants in Man. BERNER, B., WILSON, D. R., STEFFENS,R. J., MAZZENGA, G. C., HINZ, R., GUY, R. H., AND MAIBACH, H.I. (1990). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol 15, 760–766. For a seriesof bases, which penetrate through human skin in vitro at similarrates (0.056–0.49 µM/cm²/hr), penetrant pK_ais shown to correlate with erythema, edema, and color meterreadings. As estimates of irritation, erythema, edema, and rednessmeasurements are highly linearly correlated. For the selectedseries, irritation becomes significant for bases with a pK_a> 8. The irritation potential of acids with pK_a 4 has beenpreviously reported; pK_a appears highly predictive of acuteskin irritation for acids and bases in man.     

Effect of Dose, Time, and Pretreatement on the Biliary Excretion and Tissue Distribution of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the Rat

Effect of Dose, Time, and Pretreatment on the Biliary Excretionand Tissue Distribution of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxinin the Rat. KEDDERIS, L. B., ANDERSEN, M. E., AND BIRNBAUM,L. S. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 21, 405–411. Previous studies of the effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) pretreatment on the biliary excretion and hepatic dispositionindicated that TCDD did not induce its own metabolic elimination.Pretreatment with TCDD did enhance its hepatic uptake. The presentwork was designed to further examine the effects of dose, time,and pretreatment on the tissue distribution and biliary eliminationof [³H]TCDD. Adult male F-344 rats were administered 0 or 100nmol [¹⁴C]TCDD or [³H]-TCDD/kg body weight po 3 days prior tobile duct cannulation and iv injection of 0 or 1 nmol [³H]TCDDor 1, 10, or 100 nmol [¹⁴C]TCDD/kg. Bile was collected for upto 8 hr while rats were maintained under pentobarbital anesthesia.Biliary TCDD and TCDD metabolites were quantified by liquidscintillation spectrometry. In naive animals which receivedno pretreatment, similar rates of excretion (% dose) were observedfollowing iv administration of 1 nmol [³H]TCDD/kg or 10 or 100nmol [¹⁴C-TCDD/kg. Metabolic elimination of highly purified[³H]TCDD (<99%) appeared to be linear with respect to timewith 0.8% of the dose being excreted in the bile over a 5- to8-hr collection period 0 or 24 hr after iv dosing (1, 10, or100 nmol/kg) and 72 hr after oral dosing (100 nmol/kg). In allgroups, higher concentrations of TCDD were found in liver versusfat, and perirenal fat concentrations were elevated relativeto epididymal fat concentrations, probably reflective of theenhanced blood perfusion of the former tissue. Pretreatmentenhanced hepatic concentrations and decreased fat concentrationsof the challenge dose. The time dependence of factors involvedin the dose-related hepatic accumulation of TCDD dispositionwas illustrated by the elevated liver:fat concentration ratiosobserved at the 100 versus 10 or 1 nmol/kg dose at 30 hr, butnot by 5–6 hr after dosing. In studies designed to evaluatethe role of CYP1A2 in the hepatic disposition of TCDD, pretreatmentwith isosafrole, a selective inhibitor of CYP1A2, diminishedhepatic concentrations of [³H]TCDD. In conclusion, TCDD wasmetabolically cleared at a fairly constant rate over an 80-hrperiod, and the rate of elimination was proportional with regardto dose. Studies with isosafrole suggest that TCDD is boundto CYP1A2 in the liver.     

Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion of N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide Following Dermal Application to Human Volunteers

The absorption, metabolism, and excretion of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide(DEET) in male human volunteers following dermal applicationof |¹⁴C|DEET was studied. DEET was applied to two groups ofsix volunteers either as the undiluted technical grade materialor as a 15% solution in ethanol. The material was applied overa 4 x 6-cm area on the volar surface of the forearm and wasleft in contact with the skin for 8 hr, then rinsed off theskin. Application sites also were tape stripped at 1, 23, and45 hr after rinsing. Serial blood samples and all urine andfeces were collected for 5 days after application. Aliquotsof these materials were analyzed for total radioactivity inorder to define absorption and excretion patterns. Urine samplesalso were analyzed by HPLC to characterize the metabolic profileand/or to identify metabolites. Absorption of DEET as evidencedby plasma radioactivity occurred within 2 hr after dose application.Elimination of radioactivity from plasma was rapid and quantifiablelevels of radioactivity were observed in plasma for only 4 hrafter the end of the 8-hr exposure period. Urine was the principalroute of excretion of radioactivity and accounted for an averageof 5.61 and 8.33/ of the applied dose in the undiluted DEETand 15/ DEET in ethanol groups, respectively. Excretion of radioactivityin the feces was less than 0.08/ of the applied dose in bothgroups. DEET did not accumulate in the superficial layers ofthe skin as evidenced by low amounts of radioactivity in thetape strippings. The major fraction of the applied radioactivitywas recovered in the skin rinses. Absorbed DEET was completelymetabolized and six major metabolites were observed in urine.Two major urinary metabolites tenta tively were identified.Based upon the percentage of applied dose recovered in the excreta,dermal absorption of DEET ranged from 3 to 8% with a mean of5.6/ in the volunteers applied undiluted technical grade DEET.The corresponding values for the volunteers applied 15/ DEETin ethanol were 4 to 14/ and 8.4/, respectively.     

Contaminated soils (I): In vitro dermal absorption of benzo[a]pyrene in human skin

Dermal absorption of the lipophile and potential carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in soils from contaminated sites was simulated in vitro using human skin exposed to 14C-BaP-spiked soil. This study is the first in a series of tests at Health Canada with several soil contaminants spanning a wide range of lipophilicity conducted with viable human skin. Breast skin was obtained fresh from a local hospital and dermatomed to a thickness of 0.4-0.5 mm. Teflon Bronaugh diffusion cells were perfused with HEPES buffered Hanks saline (pH 7.4) with 4% bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fractions were collected at 6-h intervals for up to 24 h exposure either to 14C-BaP applied in acetone or spiked in a commercial gardening soil. As skin depot 14C levels were still high at 24 h, the study was repeated for up to 42 h to examine skin depot bioavailability. Skin was washed with soapy water at 24 h in both the 24- and 42-h studies. Exposure to 14C-BaP both with and without soil was conducted in triplicate with skin specimens from at least 4 patients. In the 24-h exposure tests including the skin depot there was 15 and 56% absorption with and without soil, respectively. The lower total percent absorption from the spiked soil applied to skin resulted from lower depot absorption of 8% with and 45% without soil. Data for 42-h studies were similar and revealed no significant decrease in skin depot levels. Including the 42-h depots there was 16 and 50% absorption with and without soil, respectively, with respective depots of 7 and 39%. As there was no significant difference between the 24- and 42-h depots both with and without soil, the data suggest the depot for BaP was not bioavailable for at least the additional 18-h post soap wash exposure. The bioavailability of BaP is discussed in relation to previous in vitro and in vivo studies in perspective with dermal exposure to contaminated soils.