Dermal penetration of bisphenol A in human skin contributes marginally to total exposure.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous and many exposure scenarios have been described during the last decades. While oral uptake is considered as the major route of exposure, the contribution of skin penetration has been recently discussed. In the present study, the dermal penetration rate of BPA has been determined in human skin in an in vitro test method according to the OECD Test Guideline 428.

Regulatory assessment of in vitro skin corrosion and irritation data within the European framework: Workshop recommendations.

Validated in vitro methods for skin corrosion and irritation were adopted by the OECD and by the European Union during the last decade. In the EU, Switzerland and countries adopting the EU legislation, these assays may allow the full replacement of animal testing for identifying and classifying compounds as skin corrosives, skin irritants, and non irritants. In order to develop harmonised recommendations on the use of in vitro data for regulatory assessment purposes within the European framework, a workshop was organized by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health together with ECVAM and the BfR.

Cross talk between keratinocytes and dendritic cells: impact on the prediction of sensitization.

Understanding the mechanistic aspects involved in sensitization by chemicals will help to develop relevant preventive strategies. Many potential sensitizers are not directly immunogenic but require activation outside or inside the skin by nonenzymatic oxidation (prehaptens) or metabolic transformation (prohaptens) prior to being able to induce an immune response. This necessary activation step has not yet been actively integrated into a cell line-based prediction approach.