Comments on Petty et al. (2011), 'A quantitative method for estimating dermal benzene absorption from benzene-containing hydrocarbon liquids,' IJOEH, 17:287-300.

摘要

In the IJOEH publication by Petty et al, the authors state that the objective of this paper is to provide a "scientifically sound method for estimating the dermal absorption of benzene due to skin contact with benzene-containing liquids". However, we note several important scientific and technical issues related to the methodology and datasets presented in this paper that warrant additional discussion. Specifically, we address five topic areas in this letter to the editor. First; we discuss why the authors' proposed methodology for combining dermal flux data from different animal species and disparate mixtures containing benzene to estimate the dermal flux of benzene for a range of hydrocarbon liquids is not appropriate. Second, we describe how the authors' curve fitting approach represents an incorrect use of statistics and cannot be used to validate a model. Third, we point out that the authors' inclusion of a skin site absorption factor in their dermal exposure model is inconsistent with standard practice and such a factor is not used or recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).