Evaluating dermal exposure to organochlorine pesticides among petrochemical workers based on skin wipe sampling
GUO Jian1,2, LUO Xiao-jun2, ZENG Yan-hong2, MAI Bi-xian2
1. Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Abstract：This study assessed the dermal exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in 30 petrochemical workers from Maoming, a prototypical petrochemical and agricultural city in South China, with an equal gender distribution. Swipe samples from exposed skin areas, such as foreheads and palms, and cloth-covered regions, including forearms and calves, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The investigation detected 10 OCPs with frequencies ranging from 1.7% to 57%, with Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) occurring more frequently (35%) than dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) (5.3%). OCPs concentrations varied significantly (P<0.0001), with levels ranging to 3050ng/m2, in descending order from forehead, to palms, forearms, and finally calves. Dermal absorption doses (DADderm) and hand-to-mouth exposure doses (DADoral) were predominantly attributable to HCH, which contributed more than 60% of the exposure, and ranged up to 13ng/(kg·d) and 0.24ng/(kg·d), respectively. The head and neck areas were the most substantial contributors to DADderm (87%). Despite slightly higher exposure levels in females, the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Health risk assessments indicated that cancer risks from exposure were within safe limits (<10-4), although females exhibited a marginally higher risk.
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