Chemical exposure of the skin has become a route of entry of some chemicals into the body and has come under major review in recent times. This research aims to develop a method of estimating skin exposure that is both reliable and non-prohibitive in cost. This involved the design and testing of skin patches adaptable for monitoring skin exposure to chemicals using several different types of absorbents which could be easily worn against skin. The final design of the patch used either activated charcoal or tenax as the absorbing medium. The patches were then desorbed with a solvent in order to analyse the chemicals. The results of the study showed that many skin exposures do not have a direct relationship with inhalation exposures, which is important because currently there are no estimates of the levels of skin exposures that may have potential long term health effects. The patch has proved successful for detecting the presence and determining the amount of chemicals that come in contact with the skin. Charcoal patches have the widest application, but are not suitable for all situations and tenax should be used on these occasions. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)