Assessment of dermal exposure to inorganic lead caused by direct skin contact with lead sheet and moulded PVC profiles

Lead uptake can occur via inhalation and ingestion exposure, while dermal absorption is thought to be minimal. However, dermal exposure is still important as it can contribute to ingestion exposure due to transfer from the skin to the mouth via the fingers. This study was designed to provide information about i) the potential fordermal lead exposures caused by direct skin contact with lead sheet material, and ii)lead surface levels of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) profiles, as might occur in a consumer or residential environment. This was to enable a health risk assessment to be completed by industry representatives. Controlled tests were carried out in the laboratory to evaluate the rate of transfer of lead to the skin by varying the number of skin contact events with lead sheet and lead ingots. Contact tests were also carried out at six different sites at two differenthistoric buildings where lead sheet has been used as part of the building fabric or to rovide weather or physical protection in keeping with the historic nature of the site. Tests were carried out in the laboratory to determine the presence of lead on the surface of different samples of PVC profiles. These included new (manufactured in 2006) PVC and old (manufactured in 1990) PVC. A total of 54 dermal samples were collected from six volunteers participating in the lead contact tests in our laboratory. Exposures were low, ranging from less than the limit of detection to 2.24 �g/cm2. In general tests on lead sheeting and ingots indicated that as the number of contacts with the lead surface increased, the amount transferred to the hands increased. Thirty six samples were collected during the field survey and exposures ranged from 0.07 to 5.05 �g/cm2. A similar pattern of increasing lead exposure with increasing contact was observed. Twenty samples were collected from the surface of PVC profiles either using wiping or microvacuuming techniques. Micro-vacuuming was inefficient at removing lead and therefore unsuitable. Low levels of lead were removed by wiping from both old andnew PVC and exposures ranged from 0.14 to 0.45 �g/cm2. Overall, dermal exposures were low and exposure of visitors to historic buildings is likely to be minimal. Levels of lead removed from lead stabilised PVC were low and exposure of residents is likely to be minimal. “”