The Effect Of Temperature On The Transdermal Absorption Of Anthracene In Healthy Individuals

The respiratory routes of exposure to hazardous chemicals such polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among occupational groups workers has been well studied; however, the contribution to dermal routes of exposure has remained understudied. Microdialysis (MD) is an intradermal sampling technique allowing bidirectional exchange of substances between the MD fiber and interstitial fluid, depending on concentration gradient and pressure. To determine if anthracene can be dermally absorbed and sampled via MD, multiple MD fibers were inserted into the ventral forearm and a 2.0% anthracene solution was applied over the sites. Dialysate from the MD fibers were sampled over 4 hours at a rate of 1 µL/min. The dialysate was measured using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Anthracene concentration in the dialysate samples was similar between the hot and thermoneutral sites (P=0.263), with values of 2.9 ± 0.4 ppm and 3.5 ± 0.4 ppm respectively. Absolute SkBF (flux) was significantly higher at the heated versus the thermoneutral site (P=0.001) with values of 35.7 ± 11.8 and 7.2 ± 1.0, respectively; however, values were not significantly different between sites when presented as a percentage of maximum cutaneous vascular conductance (%CVCmax; P= 0.057) with values of 29.2 ± 8.3 and 8.6 ± 2.3, respectively.