Skin Toxicology—The Future May Be Orange

By: Johann Wiechers, PhD, JW Solutions

Posted: July 9, 2010

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Circling back to the conference, this author's point is that toxicologists of the world should see that skin penetration is expressed as micrograms per square centimeter per hour and nothing more. Dose and percentages are irrelevant. If cosmetic scientists calculated like toxicologists, they would dose a kilogram on the skin and the percentage of penetration would always be low. Does a higher dose make a chemical more safe? Does an orange football make a Dutch football player more deadly? Sound okay? Think again!

Oftentimes at conferences, toxicologists tell this author that they measure skin penetration in percentages because, “The regulators force us to do it this way!” Of course, only the material in the immediate proximity of the skin will penetrate, but this is how the cosmetic industry plays its game. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) continues to ban videos from being used in controversial situations on the football pitch but FIFA always wins, even if it is wrong. The toxicologists always win, even if they are wrong. The Spaniards always win, even if they…. or maybe?

The future  may not be as black as it looks. In fact, it is this author's hope that the world will see on Sunday that the future is orange. To all my Dutch and Spanish friends, may the best (orange) team win…