Hand wash and manual skin wipes

Hand wash and skin wipes are major techniques that have been used for derma l exposure sampling. Both techniques remove chemicals either deposited on o r transfer red to the skin contaminant layer by a combination of chemical a nd mechanical actions, The paper overviews identified methods and technique s, with emphasis on sampling parameters and sampling efficiency. It is conc luded that identified sampling protocols, including sampling techniques, de viate at possible key issues, which hampers comparisons of study results. I t is recommended to conduct sampling efficiency studies prior to held sampl ing, under conditions that are quite similar to conditions of exposure rega rding exposure process, levels of skin loading, and time of residence of th e compound on the skin. Harmonization of sampling protocols will be a first step in creating a database for better understanding the influence of samp ling parameters on the performance of removal techniques to assess dermal e xposure. (C) 2000 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.