Course Description:
Recorded at AIHce EXP 2023
Recent publications, news articles, and FDA petitions have reported trace (ppm) levels of benzene in personal care products such as sunscreens, hand sanitizers, and deodorants. Potential exposures may occur among consumers and workers, who frequently use these products. Exposure may occur through inhalation, dermal absorption, and ingestion. A three-tiered modeling approach is presented for estimating the absorbed benzene dose during the use of personal care products. The Tier-1 model assumes that all benzene in the product is absorbed, reflecting a maximum possible dose that is typically far above realistic doses. The Tier-2 model characterizes dermal absorption, evaporation, air dispersion (via IH MOD 2.0, AIHA EASC tool), and inhalation. Tier-2 estimates are more accurate than Tier-1 estimates but are still expected to overestimate exposure. If further refinement is needed, a Tier-3 model accounts for decreases in dermal absorption and evaporation rates over time but is more computationally intensive. Proposed options for laboratory measurements to further refine the Tier-2 and Tier-3 models are presented in this session. The tiered modeling approach is a valuable strategy to characterize potential benzene exposures from consumer and occupational use of personal care products.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• Determine which products may contain trace amounts of benzene.
• List key determinants to consider when estimating exposures from such products.
• Select appropriate benchmarks to which estimated exposures can be compared.
• Implement a Tier-1 screening-level model to estimate the maximum benzene dose.
• Summarize the pros and cons of the Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 modeling approaches.
• Discuss proposed laboratory experiments that could supplement the higher tier models.
• Recognize that model results can be used to estimate a maximum amount of benzene that will not exceed benchmarks.
Contact Hours:
1
Presentation Date:
05/24/2023
Presenters:
Josh Maskrey, CIH
Heather Avens, PhD, MS, CIH
