Chronic Exposure to Petroleum-Derived Hydrocarbons Alters Human Skin Microbiome and Metabolome Profiles: A Pilot Study

Petroleum-derived substances, like industrial oils and
grease,
are ubiquitous in our daily lives. Comprised of petroleum hydrocarbons
(PH), these substances can come into contact with our skin, potentially
causing molecular disruptions and contributing to the development
of chronic disease. In this pilot study, we employed mass spectrometry-based
untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses to explore
these effects. Superficial skin samples were collected from subjects
with and without chronic dermal exposure to PH at two anatomical sites:
the fingers (referred to as the hand) and arms (serving as an intersubject
variability control). Exposed hands exhibited higher bacterial diversity
(Shannon and Simpson indices) and an enrichment of oil-degrading bacteria
(ODB), including Dietzia, Paracoccus, and Kocuria. Functional prediction suggested enriched pathways associated with
PH degradation in exposed hands vs non-exposed hands, while no differences
were observed when comparing the arms. Furthermore, carboxylic acids,
glycerophospholipids, organooxygen compounds, phenol ethers, among
others, were found to be more abundant in exposed hands. We observed
positive correlations among multiple ODB and xenobiotics, suggesting
a chemical remodeling of the skin favorable for ODB thriving. Overall,
our study offers insights into the complex dysregulation of bacterial
communities and the chemical milieu induced by chronic dermal exposure
to PH.