ABSTRACT
Contamination of soil and water and the transfer of hazardous chemicals are major concerns. There may be hidden dangers in weekend gardening or in the child’s play area where the soil has become laden with lead or other hazardous chemicals. The in vitro diffusion cell is a truly stationary system where chemical passage from soil to skin is physically undisturbed and will function according to the chemical kinetics of the components. The evolution of skin resulted in a tissue that protects precious body fluids and constituents from excessive uptake of water and contaminants in the external environment. Certain procedures are necessary to ensure that the dose from soil is uniform and controlled, especially with in vivo studies. In vivo studies have an advantage over in vitro studies in that the data provide a better understanding of the potential toxicokinetics of a chemical.
