Wet decontamination-induced stratum corneum hydration - Effects on the skin barrier function to diethylmalonate

Decontamination of chemical agents from the skin uses both dry and wet deco ntamination processes. Recent studies have shown that wet decontamination f requently results in stratum corneum hydration. To evaluate the hydration e ffect of wet decontamination on the skin barrier function and hence on the decontamination efficiency, a series of comparative studies were carried ou t on human skin contaminated with the nerve agent simulant diethylmalonate, using decontamination media having different salinity and surfactants. The results showed that, compared to non-decontaminated skin, remnant diethylm alonate on decontaminated skin penetrated at an accelerated rate in the imm ediate 2 h following decontamination, This transient enhancement effect, ra nging from 20 to 98%, was depended on the nature of the decontamination med ia used and was more obvious in skin samples that were decontaminated 1 h p ostexposure. All decontamination media exhibited this effect, with the grea test enhancement observed in the following order: anionic surfactant > cati onic surfactant > non-ionic surfactant > deionized water > 0.9% saline > 9% saline. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.