Chemicals on skin – development and validation of sampling methodology

In many occupations, contact with hazardous chemicals can cause occupationally induced disease with acute or chronic health effects and symptoms. This project will develop new sampling methods to measure skin exposure to such chemicals in mixture.

The existing knowledge about skin exposure to harmful substances is currently very limited. One main reason is the lack of effective sampling and analysis methods, which means that we currently know relatively little about what the skin is normally exposed to. There are also no limit values for harmful skin exposure in the work environment.

The project aims to develop new sampling methods to measure skin exposure to several groups of harmful chemicals present in the work environment.

The project will gather knowledge about skin exposure to chemicals through:

• identification of chemicals and occupational settings of particular interest with regard to skin exposure.
• development of sampling methodology and analysis methods in the laboratory.
• testing candidate sampling methodologies in real work environments.

Project activities

As a starting point, the project has identified work environments where skin exposure is of particular interest because the industry is new, under development or undergoing a technological change. Examples include recycling of electronics, manufacturing and recycling of batteries, industrial metalworking and additive manufacturing of components. The chemicals in focus include plastic and rubber chemicals, cutting fluids, biocides, metals, PFAS and solvents.

The project will develop the sampling method by performing structured lab experiments using artificial skin, different sampling media, different chemical mixtures, and subsequent sample treatment and analysis. Focus is on a non-invasive wipe method that preferably can be adapted for self-sampling.

In parallel the sampling methods are tested in field measurements in real work environments. This will allow the project to contribute to the mapping of skin exposure to several different harmful substances.