In vitro study to determine decontamination of 3,5-dichloro-2,4,6-trifluoropyridine (DCTFP) from human skin.

This in vitro study determined the decontamination potential of soap and water, D-TAM skin cleanser, corn oil and the O'Dell reactive skin decontamination system to remove 3,5-dichloro-2,4,6-trifluoropyridine (DCTFP) from human skin after short exposure periods (10 and 30 min). The main result turned out to be the rapid volatility of DCTFP where half of the dose evaporated within 10 min and most of the dose was evaporated after 30 min. This rapid volatility was confirmed in an additional study where DCTFP rapidly evaporated from inert plastic disks (70% loss in 10 min). Despite rapid evaporation and short exposure periods, some DCTFP entered into the human skin epidermis, dermis and receptor fluid. Less DCTFP reached the receptor fluid with the 10 min decontamination (0.13%) than the 30 min decontamination (0.27%). Statistically, all tested decontamination systems performed the same (P>0.05). For human risk the volatility of DCTFP seems paramount. For skin decontamination any of the tested systems will work. An important point is that they should be used within minutes of skin exposure. This study exhibits the dynamics of evaporation, substantivity (skin binding), percutaneous absorption and decontamination of a volatile chemical.