J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

In vitro human skin benzene permeation was measured from gasoline formulations with benzene concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 10 vol% and from neat benzene. Steady-state fluxes (J|), permeability coefficients (k|) and lag times (t|) were calculated from infinite dose exposures. Permeation of benzene from small gasoline doses administered over a two-day period was also studied. The thermodynamic activity of benzene in gasoline at 30\u2009\ub0C was determined and the solution is near-ideal over the range from 0.8 to 100 vol%. J| through human epidermal membranes were linear (R|=0.92) with concentration over the range from 0.8 to 10 vol%. J| (\u3bcg/cm|/h) from gasoline (0.8 vol% benzene=6.99\u2009mg/ml) through epidermis and full-thickness skin were 9.37\ub11.41 and 1.82\ub10.44, respectively. Neat benzene J| was 566\ub1138. Less than 0.25% of the total applied benzene mass from finite doses (10\u2009\u3bcl/cm|) of gasoline was detected in receptor cells, and a small reduction of barrier function was observed from six total doses administered over 2 days. Application of these results to dermal exposure assessment examples demonstrates a range of systemic benzene uptakes that can be expected from occupational and consumer dermal exposures to gasoline, depending on the type and extent of exposure.20172019-05-23T00:00:00ZCC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States28792002PMC6531855641