The Absorption of Ionic Lead Compounds Through the Skin of Mice

Abstract

Lead, as a solution of lead acetate or nitrate, was applied to the skin of mice. In less than 24 h, there were large increases in lead in the skin, muscle, pancreas, spleen, kidney, liver, caecum, bone, heart and brain, but not in the blood. For intravenously (iv) injected lead, there were increases in blood lead and in all organs except muscle. Skin-absorbed lead concentrated more strongly than iv injected lead in the skin and muscle, but less strongly in the blood, spleen, kidney, liver and bone, while the affinities of the pancreas, caecum, mid-gut, heart and brain for the two sources of lead were similar. Previous research has found that inorganic lead can also be absorbed through the skin of humans. The results show the importance of taking into account the possibility of skin absorption of lead in occupational exposure, in particular since blood lead, the prime index of lead status used in occupational health surveys, is not an indicator of skin absorption.