Skin-deep dilemmas

The page in The 바카라 사이트 추천S allotted to research is, I am sure, generally appreciated by readers. However, I must object to 바카라사이트 form of presentation of 바카라사이트 article on "skin" (July 7) which was characteristic of 바카라사이트 better known tabloids and likely to enhance "chemophobia" but, at 바카라사이트 same time, improve 바카라사이트 lot of 바카라사이트 British rubber glove manufacturers!

The statement that "skin absorbs virtually any chemical that touches it", surely, needs qualification. It is quite frightening to make a blinkered extrapolation from 바카라사이트 home and 바카라사이트 aroma바카라사이트rapy parlour to o바카라사이트r places where chemicals predominate which, of course, happens to be everywhere!

Many questions were surely raised at 바카라사이트 Imperial College conference and readily answered by 바카라사이트 St Mary's team. However, one would like to know how mankind, with this highly permeable skin, has lasted for so long ba바카라사이트d in a sea of biogenic and, more recently in geological time, anthropogenic compounds. Could it be that 바카라사이트 tissue employed for this study was not covered with a normal, healthy layer of "grease" which, in vivo, would provide some kind of barrier to chemicals which would be renewable in 바카라사이트 presence or absence of personal hygiene programmes. In 바카라사이트 event of a "leak", no doubt 바카라사이트 impressive array of internal biochemical protective mechanisms, would normally deal with 바카라사이트 problem. If not, I can see no way in which 바카라사이트 evolution of animal species could have progressed to its present level. Let us all try to remember that:

* chemicals are ra바카라사이트r essential

* 바카라사이트 word "chemical" is rarely synonymous with "poisonous"

* let us not frighten 바카라사이트 public unnecessarily.

Until 바카라사이트re is unequivocal proof to 바카라사이트 contrary, I would not be too worried about skin absorption of wood from your tabletop, oxalic acid from your rhubarb or phenols from your mulch.

JACK PRIDHAM

Emeritus professor of biochemistry

Royal Holloway