Document RJao0gg2OV810KqOL7y1E3eKz

March 18, 1943 Mr. R. R. Read, Lambert Pharmacal Company, St. Lpuls, Missouri. ' Bear Mr. Reads ,, In reply to your letter of March 10, I am glad to give you the best information that is available to me. Very little work has been done in recent years on the subject of the absorption of inorganic compounds of lead through the skin. The chief reason for this is that there has been no practical need for such investigation. It is generally accepted on the basis of practical observations and a limited amount of ex- perimental work that the inorganic lead compounds are not ^absorbed through the skin to any appreciable extent. There are a few compounds that can produce illness and fatal re sults as the result of skin absorption alone. These com pounds, however, are organic liquid lead compounds that owe their absorption to the fact that they are highly soluble In fats.. The inorganic compounds are absorbed in only two important ways, namely, (l) after inhalation as finely divided dust, fumes or spray and, (2) after being swallowed. From these facts, it Is apparent that any lead exposure which your operators may have will be the result of the contamina tion of their hands, with the subsequent contamination of food, tobacco, cigarettes, or other objects that are introduced into the mouth. (I take It fro m what you said that there Is little likelihood of there being lead-bearing dust in the air . If there should be any doubt on this score, the matter should be investigated.) Therefore, if suitable precautions are taken against swallowing lead compounds', yo u should have no diffi culty whatever. Very truly yours, RAE ef 'R o k e r F ' '. eltioe, M . D La m b e r t P h a r m a c a l C o m p a n y St.Lo u is ,M i s s o u r i Re s e a r c h L a b o r a t o r y March 10, 19^1-5 Kettering Laboratory University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Gentlemen: We are packaging certain materials for military use in collapsible lead tubes. Although these tubes are protected by lithographed ink and wax, the operators still get a certain amount of black stain on their fingers. If work has been reported on the possibility of lead ab sorption or poisoning as a result of the handling of metallic lead, it will be appreciated if you can direct us to the publication. R R R :V R. R. Read