Ways Lead Can Enter the Body

Lead most often enters the body through inhalation. Workers breathe lead when it is in the form of a dust, a fume, or a mist. Lead-containing substances enter the body through the upper respiratory tract and are then absorbed by the body.

Workers can also ingest lead if it enters the mouth and then passes into the digestive tract.

After lead enters the body, it enters the bloodstream. From here, some of it may pass through the body; the remaining parts circulate throughout the body and can accumulate in different areas of the body (including organs and tissues).

The more contact a person has with lead, the more lead is stored in the body, and the more damage may occur. Damage first begins as damage to individual cells; from there, it can destroy entire organs, tissues, or internal systems.

To learn more about Construction Lead Safety visit our Construction Lead Safety Online Training Certification web page.