Pesticides and skin diseases in man

Abstract

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. With a surface area of 1.5-2 m2 and thickness of 0.5-5 mm, it amounts to 15% of the total body weight. Thanks to its complexity and unique multilayer structure, this versatile organ forms an extremely effective barrier against a range of external factors-from solar irradiation to microbes and from mechanical trauma to xenobiotics and irritants (Spiewak 1998). Its durability is warranted by its continuous regeneration. The outermost layer of the skin-the epidermis-is fully renewed every 3-4 weeks, a process referred to as “epidermal cycle.” The function of an effective barrier between the internal environment and the external influence is not the only purpose of the largest organ-the skin also takes active part in metabolism, homeostasis, thermoregulation, and hormonal regulation. Next to the digestive tract, the skin is populated by the largest number of immune cells and plays a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune response.