Penetration of radionuclides across the skin: Concentration dependence of Co-60 permeation

Co2+ ion penetration at different concentrations across animal models of hu man skin - five days old rat skin (without hairs) and nine days old rat ski n (with hairs)- was studied in vitro in vertical diffusion cells. The resul ts showed that the permeated amounts of Co2+ ions are proportional to its c oncentration in donor solutions, whereby permeated fractions are higher at lower concentrations. Results confirmed that the most important barrier aga inst the penetration of ions is horny layer of the skin.