Developing Dermal Policy Based on Laboratory and Field Studies

Estimates indicate that more than 13 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. A worker’s skin may be exposed to hazardous chemicals through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, deposition of aerosols, immersion, or splashes. When substantial amounts of chemicals are absorbed, systemic toxicity can result. Contact dermatitis can also result when chemicals are absorbed through a worker’s skin. Contact dermatitis is one of the most common chemically induced causes of occupational illness, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of all occupational illnesses at an estimated annual cost of at least $1 billion.

Developing Dermal Policy Based on Laboratory and Field Studies [PDF - 278 KB]