Particle Penetration of the Skin as a Route of Sensitization in Occupational Lung Disease

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abrigo BA ; Adkins EJ ; Antonini JM ; Roberts, Jennifer R. ; Tinkle SS
• Description:
  Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) is an occupationally-acquired lung disease that begins as a cell-mediated immune response to beryllium particulates that, over time, results in development of non-caseating granulomas. During the last ten years, the beryllium industry has made major improvements in respiratory protection and engineering control technology design, however, the rate of disease has not declined. We hypothesized that dermal exposure to beryllium particulates, coupled with joint motion, as at the wrist, would provide an alternative route for sensitization to beryllium. To test this hypothesis, 400 - 600 micron thick sections of human skin (n = 8) were applied to a flexing device with surgical glue. The integrity of the stratum corneum was verified with the NOVA DPM, and 100 ul of 0.5, 1 or 4 micron FITC-conjugated dextran beads were applied to the surface of the skin. The skin was subjected to repeated 30 degree flexure for 0, 15, 30 or 60 minutes. Control tissues were not flexed. Following treatment, tissues were fixed, cut in 20 micron thick sections, and mounted on slides in cross-section. Penetration of beads into the skin was evaluated at 1 micron intervals by laser scanning confocal microscopy. To verify that bead penetration occurred through the stratum corneum, we evaluated data between 5 and 15 microns only. We documented 0.5 and 1 micron bead penetration into the epidermis and the dermis in flexed samples, but not non-flexed tissues. Although not quantitative, only a very small percentage of beads was observed in the skin, and there was no clear time-dependence associated with penetration. Four micron beads did not penetrate the skin. These data suggest that particle penetration of the skin is a potential route of exposure in dusty work environments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Beryllium Dust Engineering Environmental Exposure Hypersensitivity Immune System Lung Diseases Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Skin Skin Diseases Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Beryllium Compounds Beryllium Disease Dust Particles Dusts Dust Sampling Engineering Controls Exposure Levels Immune Reaction Lung Disease Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Particulates Pulmonary System Disorders Respiratory Protection Respiratory System Disorders Sensitization Skin Disorders Work Environment

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021080
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2000 Mar; 54(1):149
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 39th Annual Meeting, March 19-23, 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ba40b7b485ef9c50d562d1225cbd3295640b607d241efbe9a5174a46b3b4b44e5e22dc3bdc363d2fc0d6a8c6e79ed7fe08924fe0b428e828995777577a267228
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198639/cdc_198639_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 28.26 KB ]