Appendix D Food Codes for NHANES - OEHHA

Scientific Review Panel Draft February, 2012
Table F.5 for SVOCs. Currently, the OEHHA default ABS value for organic
compounds applies only to 4,4’-methylene dianiline.
For inorganic classes of compounds, US EPA (2004) recommended that no
default dermal absorption values be used. The premise was that speciation of
inorganic compounds is critical to the dermal absorption and there are too little
data to extrapolate a reasonable default value. With the exception of the
metalloid arsenic, OEHHA notes that the range of ABS point estimate values for
inorganic the metal and semi-metal saltss (see Table F.5) is relatively narrow,
between 0.2 and 46%. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that a default ABS
of 13% can be used as a screening value, primarily if there are some data to
indicate that the metal salt exhibits characteristics of low fractional dermal uptake
similar to other metal saltsbased on the mean ABS value for the metals and
semi-metals in which published dermal absorption data exists (i.e., arsenic,
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury and nickel). Currently, OEHHA
the default ABS values for inorganic compounds appliesy only to inorganic
compounds of fluoride, beryllium and selenium.
F. 3 Point Estimates for Dermal Absorption (ABS) of Inorganic
Compounds
F. 3.1 Arsenic and Arsenic Compounds
Recommended point estimate for dermal uptake: 6%.
F.3.1.1 Studies Considered
A. Key Studies
Wester et al. (1993a) examined the in vivo percutaneous absorption of
radiolabeled soluble arsenic (as H3 73 AsO4) freshly mixed with soil and applied to
skin of female Rhesus monkeys (n = 4 animals per dose group). Dose levels of
0.0004 and 0.6 µg/cm 2 were used. The soil load on the skin was 40 mg soil/cm 2
skin area. The soil had been sieved to 180-300 µm prior to application, thus, a
soil load of 40 mg/cm 2 was likely at or near monolayer coverage. Topical doses
were applied to an area of the abdomen for 24 hours. Urine was collected during
the dosing period, and through the following 6 days. For comparison,
radiolabeled arsenic (as 73 As) in water was administered intravenously to four
monkeys. Percutaneous absorption was determined by the ratio of urinary
arsenic excretion following topical application to that following intravenous
administration.
Urinary excretion of the 73 As label was complete by day 7, with about half the
label excreted in the first 24-48 hrs following topical administration. Results of
this study showed that the percutaneous absorption of arsenic from soil was 4.5
F-16