Toxic responses of skin

Selected chemicals causing skin burns

• Ammonia - Contact with compressed gas can cause frostbite.
• Calcium oxide (CaO) - Extremely exothermic reaction dissolving in
water can cause burns.
• Chlorine - Liquid and concentrated vapors cause cell death.
• Ethylene oxide - Solutions and vapors may burn.
• Hydrogen chloride (HCl) - Severe burning with scar formation.
• Hydrogen f uoride (HF) - painful, slowly healing burns rom high
concentration.
• Hydrogen peroxide - High concentration causes severe burns and
blistering
• Methyl bromide Liquid exposure produces blistering, deep burns.
• Nitrogen oxides - nitric acid causing severe yellow-colored burns.
• Phosphorus – burned skin in the presence of air.
• Phenol - Extremely corrosive even in low concentrations.
• Sodium hydroxide - causes deep burns, readily denatures keratin.
• Toluene diisocyanate - contact rarely may result in respiratory
sensitization.
Granulomatous reaction
- cannot be readily removed are consequently isolated.
- occur in infrequently toward a variety of agents.
- abundant inflammatory cells can be produced.
- many substances can produce granulomatous reactions, including:
- silica, talc, mineral oil, and beryllium.
Phototoxicology
- ultraviolet and visible spectra of solar radiation
- earth extend from 290 to 700 nm
- protective skin pigment melanin, synthesized in melanocytes
- chromophores in the skin include amino acids
- Biologically, the most signifcant chromophore is DNA
Common contact allergens
• Topical medications/hygiene products
Antibiotics : Bacitracin, Neomycin, Polymyxin, Aminoglycosides,
Sulfonamides
 Preservatives: Benzalkonium chloride, Formaldehyde
 Therapeutics: Benzocaine, Idoxuridine, Corticosteroids
 others: Cinnamic aldehyde, Propylene glycol, Thioglycolates
• Plants and trees
Abietic acid, Balsam of Peru, Rosin (colophony)
Pentadecylcatechols, Sesquiterpene lactone, Tuliposide A

• Antiseptics
Chloramine, Chlorhexidine, Chloroxylenol, Dichlorophene,
Dodecylaminoethyl glycine HCl
 Glutaraldehyde, Hexachlorophene, Thimerosal (Merthiolate), Mercurials,
Triphenylmethane dyes
• Rubber products
 Diphenylguanidine, Hydroquinone, Mercaptobenzothiazole, p-
Phenylenediamine
 Resorcinol monobenzoate, Benzothiazolesul enamides, Dithiocarbamates,
Thiurams
• Leather
 Formaldehyde, Glutaraldehyde
 Potassium dichromate
• Paper products
 Abietic acid, Formaldehyde, Nigrosine
 Rosin (colophony), Triphenyl phosphate, Dyes
• Glues and bonding agents
 Bisphenol A, Epichlorohydrin, Formaldehyde, Acrylic monomers,
Cyanoacrylates
 Epoxy resins, Toluene sulfonamide resins, Urea formaldehyde resins
• Metals
Chromium, Chromium
 Mercury, Nickel
Adverse Responses to Electromagnetic Radiation
- UV radiation exposure is erythema (redness).
- varies greatly rom person to person.
- Vasodilation responsible or the color change.
- most effective solar band to cause erythema
- UV-B (290 to 320 nm).
Photosensitivity
- Various genetic diseases, such as xeroderma pigmentosum
- “constitutional” sensitivity to light can be precipitated
- “acquired” sensitivity in general by hexachlorobenzene
- Phototoxicity produced by systemic or topical administration