Few tools are available to help assess potential risk following dermal penetration of chemicals. The proposed tool’s objective is to help occupational health practitioners perform this assessment through summarizing relevant information from several sources and calculating a hazard index. Information provided by Upercut for over 1 500 chemicals include standard classifications of systemic percutaneous toxicity (including 2 skin notation systems), intrinsic potential for transdermal passage, and toxic potential based on animal toxicity as coded by the General Harmonized System.

The dermal hazard index calculated by Upercut compares the doses potentially absorbed through skin to a reference dose deemed safe for most workers. The index is accompanied by a fully quantitative uncertainty analysis.

Upercut tool