DOC 031 – Strategy for assigning a “Skin Notation”

DOC 031 : Strategy for assigning a skin notation | August 1993

In providing standards for occupational exposure, it has been recognised for a long time that inhalation is not the only route by which a substance can enter the body. In addition to ingestion from contaminated skin, food and smoking materials, absorption through the skin may be particularly important. It is for this reason that lists of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) often provide a ?skin notation? which indicates that adverse health effects may arise from skin absorption as well as by atmospheric over-exposure. In this document, ECETOC has reviewed the factors underlying the criteria and makes proposals that may assist in the achievement of a harmonised approach.