Evaluating the role of the dermal pathway in driving human exposure to PFAS

To evaluate the use of in vitro human skin equivalent models to characterize the trans-dermal uptake of PFASs from both indoor dust and source materials such as PFAS-treated waterproof clothing and cosmetics and personal care products (e.g. lotions, sunblock, powders etc.). Such models are widespread in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, and have been utilized by the UoB team in the ADAPT and A-TEAM projects to examine dermal uptake of flame retardants from dust and source materials, but have yet to be explored fully in the context of exposure to PFASs. It will include examination of the possible role of dermal uptake in metabolizing precursors to PFOS and PFOA. The models will be validated against results obtained using ex vivo human skin.