Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis
Published on: July 1, 2017
Dermal Exposure to Organophosphorus Compounds in Home Video Game Controllers
Yuna Nishiyama1, Masahiro Tokumura1, Qi Wang2
1Graduate Division of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
Abstract:
Organophosphorus compounds, widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in plastic products, present significant health risks due to their potential adverse effects. While inhalation and ingestion are well-studied exposure pathways, dermal exposure remains underexplored. In recent years, the growing popularity of gamingdriven by extended home stays during the COVID-19 pandemic and the inclusion of e-sports in international competitionshas led to prolonged contact with gaming devices, particularly among young people and professional gamers. This study investigates dermal exposure to triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) from 37 home-use video game controllers. TPhP was detected in 5 first-party and 22 third-party controllers, with concentrations reaching up to 530 μg g-1. Using artificial skin (EPISKIN), we measured a TPhP skin permeation rate of 0.42 ng cm-2 h-1. Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate daily dermal intake rates; professional gamers (5th percentile-50th percentile-95th percentile, 9.0-22-45 ng kg-1 day-1) and e-sports students (5.3-8.5-18 ng kg-1 day-1) were identified as the most exposed groups due to prolonged gaming sessions. Remarkably, dermal exposure from the controller was found to rival or exceed other pathways, including dust ingestion and inhalation. This study highlights the urgent need for strategies to mitigate dermal exposure risks from gaming devices.
Related Concept Videos
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is...
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they...
Effects of Chemicals: Overview
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action
Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex,...

