JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS Committees for 1974-75 EDUCATION COMMITTEE Mr D. S. Morris (Chairman) Mr D. F. Williams Mr M. Callingham Dr P. J. Rothwell SOCIAL COMMITTEE Miss A. E.Young (Acting Chairman) Mr D. S. Morris Mrs M. V. Weston GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE Mr G. A. C. Pitt (Chairman) Miss A. E. Young Dr F. G. Brown Mr D. F. Williams Mr D. E. Butterfield MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Mr D. F. Williams (Chairman) Mr M. Callingham Mr D. S. Morris PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Mr D. E. Butterfield (Chairman) Mr J. M. Blakeway (Hon. Editor) Mr A. H. Netherwood Mr T. A. Bakiewicz SCIENTIFIC AND PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Dr M. M. Breuer (Chairman) Professor F. J. G. Ebling Mr H. K. M. Bennett Mr W. W. F. Scotland PUBLICITY AND RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE Mr K. M. Godfrey (Chairman) Mr W. W. F. Scotland Mr D. N. Spatcher Mr M. A. Murray-Pearce

J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 26 3-15 (1975) ¸ 1975 Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Great Brita#t The action and fate of sodium pyridinethione when applied topically to the rabbit H. C. S. HOWLETT* and N.J. VAN ABBI•? Presented on 28th August 1974 in London at the IFSCC VIIIth International Congress on 'Cosmetics--Quality and Safety' organized by the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Great Britain. Synopsis--TOXICOLOGICAL studies of SODIUM PYRIDINETHIONE have warranted a study of absorption, distribution and excretion following topical therapy to RABBITS. The extent of percutaneous absorption of sulphur-35 labelled sodium pyridinethione has been related to the skin's structural integrity by RADIOMETRIC assay for sulphur-35 analysis. The distribution of the drug and METABOLITES for the mjaor tissues and body fluids has been established, and the metabolic fate of the drug has been determined using a RADIO- CHROMATOGRAPHIC technique. The safety evaluation of sodium pyridinethione needs to include the study of absorption, distribution and excretion following topical therapy. Using a radiometric assay for asS, the extent of percutaneous ab- sorption of asS-labelled sodium pyridinethione has been examined in rela- tion to the skin's structural integrity. Distribution of the drug and meta- bolites in the major tissues and body fluids has been established, and the metabolic fate of the drug determined using a radiochromatographic technique. * Pharmacology Department, School of Pharmacy, City of Leicester Polytechnic, Leicester. ? Beecham Products Ltd, Beecham House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex.