Cutaneous Penetration of Bisphenol A in Pig Skin

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor with weak estrogenic activity, used in epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastic. Human exposure may occur by contamination from food or food-contact material and by occupational scenarios. Occupational health hazards may be associated with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) secondary to BPA exposure. Most ACD occurs in workers handling BPA products, such as plastic-product workers, and those exposed to epoxy adhesive tapes, foams, and dental products. The present study examined in vitro cutaneous penetration of BPA through pig skin, using a Franz cell. After 2, 5, and 10 h of exposure, total BPA skin content was 3, 6.9, and 11.4% of the applied dose, respectively. BPA remained essentially on the skin surface and penetration mainly accumulated in the dermis. As the pig skin model is a reliable predictor of percutaneous penetration in humans, these findings may be reassuring for workers in contact with BPA-based products.