SKIN EFFECTS OF AIR-POLLUTION

The skin is a target organ for pollution and also allows the penetrati on of exogenous agents into the body. About 700,000 new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in 1993, and 9100 people died of cancer; 76% of the deaths were due to melanoma. Skin cancers are most closely associa ted with exposure to UVB (290 to 320 nm) irradiation, For every 1% dec rease in ozone there is a 2% increase in UVB irradiance, and therefore a 2% increase in skin cancer is predicted, Therefore the atmospheric pollution by ozone-depleting chemicals is a major concern to dermatolo gists. In addition to being a target organ and site of neoplasms and c ontact allergens, the skin is the site of significant absorption of en vironmental pollutants. In the case of chloroform, the percutaneous ab sorption is equivalent to the respiratory uptake, emphasizing how impo rtant it is to recognize skin absorption in toxicologic exposures.