Research Article Pesticide residue on/in the washed skin and its potential contribution to dermal toxicity Robert P. Zendzian * Health Effects Division (7509C), Office of Pesticide Programs, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA email: Robert P. Zendzian (Zendzian.Robert@epa.gov) *Correspondence to Robert P. Zendzian, Health Effects Division (7509C), Office of Pesticide Programs, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA. Abstract Washing the skin of humans or experimental animals after exposure to a pesticide or other chemical may leave a major portion of the dose on/in the washed skin. Questions have been raised as to whether this skin residue can contribute to the toxicity of a pesticide by continued post-wash absorption. In a set of 19 pesticides tested in the rat to determine the fate of this skin residue, absorption from the washed skin continued in 15 at all doses tested, continued in 2 pesticides at only some of the doses tested and did not continue in 2 volatile pesticides. However, only nine pesticides showed an increase in systemic concentration following absorption from the washed skin, which can be considered indicative of potential increased toxicity. The time of occurrence and magnitude of the increase varied with chemical and dose, being a combination of rate and magnitude of absorption and rate and magnitude of excretion of the absorbed chemical. Similar patterns of continued absorption of skin residue may be expected to occur in humans. Journal of Applied Toxicology Volume 23, Issue 2 , Pages 121 - 136 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.