Penetration of [3H]T-2 toxin through excised human and guinea-pig skin during exposure to [3H]T-2 toxin adsorbed to corn dust

An in vitro test system was used to measure the penetration of [3H]T-2 toxin through human epidermis, human whole skin (isolated dermis and epidermis), and through guinea-pig whole skin. To simulate the conditions which occur when agricultural workers are exposed to corn dust contaminated with T-2 toxin, the epidermal surface of each skin preparation was dosed with [3H]T-2 toxin adsorbed onto corn dust. The applied dose was 3.27 to 4.75 mg of corn dust containing 18.2 ppm [3H]T-2 toxin. The rate of percutaneous penetration was determined by measuring the accumulation of radioactivity in the receptor fluid bathing the dermal side of the excised skin. The total penetrations (expressed as percentage dose) through isolated human epidermis, human whole skin and through isolated guinea-pig whole skin were 1.12 +/- 0.26% (mean +/- standard deviation), 0.33 +/- 0.07%, and 0.13 +/- 0.07% respectively. The radioactive compounds in the receptor fluid bathing the human whole skin corresponded to T-2 toxin (69%) and HT-2 toxin (25%), as determined by thin-layer chromatography. Thus T-2 toxin adsorbed onto corn dust can partition into and penetrate through excised human and guinea-pig skin.