NIOSH publishes new skin-hazard profiles for five chemicals

Washington — NIOSH has published five new skin notation profiles to “communicate the hazards of chemical exposure to the skin” and protect workers from chemical contact.

Each notation contains general information about the chemical, along with its potential effects on the skin and overall health. NIOSH also shares the rationale for including the chemical among its skin notation profiles.

The new profiles are:

• Atrazine
• Catechol
• Chlorinated camphere
• Pentachlorophenol
• Sodium fluoroacetate

In the foreword of each notation, NIOSH Director John Howard points out that because skin is the primary barrier against external environments, it “is often exposed to potentially hazardous agents, including chemicals, which may contribute to the onset of a spectrum of adverse health effects ranging from localized damage to induction of immune-mediated responses or system toxicity.”