The percutaneous absorption of lead-203 in humans from cosmetic preparations containing lead acetate, as assessed by whole-body counting and other techniques.

Abstract The percutaneous absorption of lead from two hair-darkening cosmetic preparations containing lead acetate has been measured by radioisotopic tracer techniques, using lead-203 acetate, in eight normal human male subjects. Spiked preparations were applied in fluid and dried forms to each subject's forehead (with periods of 1 month between each application) and the quantity of lead absorbed was calculated from blood counts, whole-body counts and urine radioactivity. Results were normalized for each subject by administration of an iv tracer dose of lead-203 chloride, from which absorption was calculated. It was found that absorption of lead through the skin was essentially zero, with results ranging between 0 and 0·3% of the dose applied to whole skin. Slight absorption was found when the skin was broken. The potential hazard of the use of such cosmetic preparations is therefore considered to be insignificant.