Systemic diseases by absorption through the skin

Abstract

The relevance to health of percutaneous absorption of hazardous substances is often underestimated. The transdermal absorption of hazardous substances or pharmaceuticals usually requires exposure to just a few square centimeters of the skin in order to administer an effective dose to the body. Skin contamination can occur in the workplace or in the general environment. The systemic effects (acute intoxication, chronic intoxication, cancer) of substances are in principle independent of the uptake path.