UPTAKE OF CHLOROFORM BY SKIN DURING SHORT EXPOSURES TO CONTAMINATED WATER

Uptake of chloroform into hairless rat stratum corneum from dilute aqu eous solutions was studied using tape-stripping to determine amounts d eposited in the skin under various environmental exposure scenarios. T he length of exposure of sedated animals to the chloroform-containing medium, the frequency and duration of tape-stripping, and the number o f tape-strips per location were varied to map the stratum corneum subs tantivity of chloroform. Eight minutes immersion of the rat within a w ell-stirred solution at 36-degrees-C was found to be adequate time for the gradient to be established fully across the stratum corneum. Pene tration was progressively deeper as the exposure time increased. Subst antial evaporative loss of chloroform from the aqueous medium of appli cation seem to be responsible for lower cumulative amounts taken up wh en the same solution was held on the rat's skin within a stainless ste el template of fixed area. Of the total uptake (29 mg) from a dilute s tirred solution of chloroform (0.44 mg/ml) at 36-degrees-C, about 95% was systematically absorbed after a 30 min exposure as determined by r esiduals (measurement of bath concentrations).