title: Estimation of hand-to-mouth transfer efficiency of lead.
abstract: There are currently no published empirical data that characterize hand-to-mouth transfer efficiencies for metallic lead. The purpose of this study was to quantify the hand-to-mouth transfer efficiency of lead in adult volunteers (n = 6) using human saliva as a surrogate for the mouth and commercially available, 100% lead fishing weights as the source of lead for dermal loading. Study volunteers' saliva was collected and subsequently poured onto a sheet of wax paper placed on a balance scale. The volunteers handled lead fishing weights with both hands for approximately 15 s and then pressed three fingers from the right hand (test hand) into their saliva 10 times, with ~0.45kg of pressure. The left hand (control hand) was used as a comparison for dermal loading of lead and had no contact with saliva. SKC Full Disclosure® wipes were used to collect lead from the saliva and skin surfaces. Samples were analyzed using the NIOSH 7300 method, which was modified for wipes. The mean lead skin-to-saliva transfer efficiency was 24% (range: 12-34%). These data will be useful for more accurately characterizing lead hand-to-mouth transfer efficiencies and are likely to be helpful in exposure assessments or human health risk assessments.
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 4840 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300 West, Boulder, CO 80301, USA jennifer.sahmel@cardno.com.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sahmel
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 4840 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300 West, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
authors.forename: Elleen I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 4840 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300 West, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Avens
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 4840 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300 West, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.affiliation: Cardno ChemRisk, 4840 Pearl East Circle, Suite 300 West, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Devlin
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009055:Mouth; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D007854:Lead
keywords: hand-to-mouth; lead exposure; oral exposure; saliva; transfer efficiency