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Assessment of dermal absorption of DEET-containing insect repellent and oxybenzone-containing sunscreen using human urinary metabolites

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Abstract

Mutual enhancement of dermal absorption of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and oxybenzone (OBZ) has been reported recently with DEET and OBZ being active ingredients of insect repellent and sunscreen, respectively. To assess the reported enhancing effect directly, we used human urinary metabolites as biomarkers; besides, we also sought to determine the best way for concurrent use of these two products without extra absorption of either. Four dermal application methods were used: DEET only (S1), OBZ only (S2), DEET on top of OBZ (S3), and OBZ on top of DEET (S4). Among the study methods, there was a significant difference (p = 0.013), which was attributed to the difference between S1 and S4, suggesting that applying OBZ over DEET on the skin lead to significantly higher absorption of DEET. Using both products in reverse order, (S3) did not result in extra DEET absorption significantly. As for OBZ permeation, no significant difference was observed among the methods. In summary, the enhancement of DEET absorption is confirmed for OBZ being applied over DEET on the skin; should concurrent use of both be necessary, applying sunscreen (OBZ) first and then insect repellent (DEET) with a 15-min interval is recommended.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participating subjects for their efforts in dermal testing and urine sampling. This study was funded by Grants from the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 94-2314-B-320-012 and NSC 95-2314-B-320-011) and partly supported by Tzu Chi University Supplement Grants (610400184-01 and 610400184-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, 701 Sec.3 Zhongyang Road, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan

    Lih-Ming Yiin & Jia-Ni Tian

  2. Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan

    Jia-Ni Tian

  3. Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, 701 Sec.3 Zhongyang Road, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan

    Chien-Che Hung

Authors
  1. Lih-Ming Yiin
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  2. Jia-Ni Tian
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  3. Chien-Che Hung
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Correspondence to Lih-Ming Yiin.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Yiin, LM., Tian, JN. & Hung, CC. Assessment of dermal absorption of DEET-containing insect repellent and oxybenzone-containing sunscreen using human urinary metabolites. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 7062–7070 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3915-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3915-3

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