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Air pollutants enter body through skin

For some semivolatiles such as phthalates, dermal uptake can at least match entry via lungs

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP Some chemicals in products ranging from cosmetics to plastics used in neonatal intensive care units can seep into a person’s body as readily through the skin as via breathing, new studies show.

Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock

By Janet Raloff

- More than 2 years ago

For some toxic air pollutants, more can get into the body through the skin than via breathing, new human data indicate.