Percutaneous absorption of radiolabeled TRIS from flame-retarded fabric.

Surface tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TRIS) was removed from flame-retarded polyester fabric by benzene-hexane extraction and replaced with 14C-TRIS. Sections of the radiolabeled fabric (10 X 12 cm) were placed in contact with the clipped skins of rabbits, and urine and feces were collected over a 96 hr period. The cloths were allowed to remain dry or were moistened with either urine or simulated sweat. A similar collection of urine and feces was performed following i.v. injection of 14C-TRIS. From the results of these experiments, it can be calculated that up to 17 percent of the radiolabel on the cloth penetrated rabbit skin over the 96 hr period of exposure. Most of the excreted radiolabel appeared in the urine, with the kidney being the organ of highest specific radioactivity. The highest absorption of radiolabel occurred in the urine-moistened cloth group. Moistening the cloth with simulated sweat produced no increase in absorption over that seen with dry cloth.