Absorption of lead through the skin

Absorption of lead through the skin was studied by comparing the effect produced by lead naphthenate or lead acetate solution, when coated on the skin of rats, with data obtained from subcutaneous injections of these solutions. Body weight and liver size and weight decreased in the case of rats receiving the subcutaneous dose. delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in liver was decreased in all rats having been treated with lead compounds. The distribution of absorbed lead has been evaluated by assay of the lead content in brain, liver, kidney, spleen and muscle in the rats. The results of this study seem to verify that absorption of lead through the skin does occur and the findings confirm lead naphthenate to be more toxic than lead acetate.