Topical Absorption and Systemic Toxicity
March 2011
in “
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology
”
TLDR Some chemicals absorbed through the skin can cause serious health problems.
The document from 2011 reviews the risks of systemic toxicity from the dermal absorption of various chemicals and drugs, including herbicides, pesticides, insect repellents like DEET, and medications such as minoxidil, nitroglycerin, resorcinol, tretinoin, adapalene, salicylic acid, and corticosteroids. It also covers occupational exposures to substances like trichloroethylene, lindane, chromium, and mercury in topical products. The review highlights cases of severe toxicity, such as cardiac arrhythmias from phenol, multi-organ failure from arsenic, increased skin cancer risk from engine oil, and systemic effects like hyperkalemia from hydrofluoric acid. The authors stress the importance of public awareness, improved reporting, and the need for more research to establish causality and safe exposure levels, noting the limitations of current data based mostly on single case reports.
