Assessing in vitro dermal absorption of dry residues of agrochemical sprays using human skin within OECD TG 428

Abstract

We describe a novel experimental method that mimics exposure to dried agrochemical residues on contact surfaces during re-entry into crops. It includes the creation of dry dislodgeable residues and subsequent transfer to human skin for in vitro measurement of dermal absorption within a standard Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development test guideline (OECD TG) 428 study. A pre-determined volume of spray containing 14C-labelled active substance is transferred onto a polytetrafluorethylene-coated septum and air-dried. The septum is then gently placed onto the pre-wetted skin mounted in a flow-through Franz diffusion chamber. The septum is gently rotated thrice to transfer the dose. Preliminary tests determined transfer efficiency to ensure the appropriate test concentration on the skin. Then, a standard dermal absorption study is performed according to OECD TG 428. Results from 10 compounds indicate that the methodology can be robustly incorporated into a standard TG study. These data show that the dermal absorption from a dry dislodgeable residue is lower than that from the equivalent dose of the aqueous spray, regardless of formulation type or active substance. Studies following the scenario described above can be a suitable tool to better estimate dermal absorption from dry residues in re-entry worker and resident exposure assessment for agrochemicals.