The irritant effect of different metalworking fluids

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Occupational Health
• Bioengineering

Background:

• Water-based cutting fluids (CFs) are widely used in industrial settings.
• Potential skin irritancy from CF exposure is a concern for worker health.
• Understanding the differential effects of various CF formulations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the irritant potential of different water-based cutting fluids (CFs) on human skin.
• To compare the effects of three distinct CFs (A, B, and C) using non-invasive bioengineering techniques.
• To correlate skin responses with specific chemical components of the CFs.

Main Methods:

• Employed non-invasive bioengineering methods on 10 healthy subjects.
• Measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) using an evaporimeter.
• Recorded skin blood flow (SBF) with a laser Doppler flowmeter.
• Conducted single and repeated 24-hour patch tests with CFs at 4-5% concentrations.
• Utilized visual scoring for skin evaluation alongside instrumental measurements.

Main Results:

• CFs A and C caused a significant increase in TEWL after 24 hours and cumulative exposure (p < 0.01).
• CF B did not show a significant difference in TEWL compared to the water control.
• Increased SBF was observed only for CFs A and C after cumulative patch testing (p < 0.01).
• Despite similar alkalinity, CFs exhibited distinct skin reactions attributed to their chemical compositions.

Conclusions:

• The chemical components of cutting fluids significantly influence their skin irritancy.
• Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is a sensitive indicator for assessing CF-induced skin irritation.
• Non-invasive bioengineering methods effectively differentiate the irritant potential of various CFs.