Table 3.
Studies of lead excretion in sweat.
Study | Country, participants | Study design and intervention | Key findings (concentrations μg/L unless otherwise indicated) |
---|---|---|---|
Genuis et al., 2010 [3] | Canada 10 with chronic health conditions 10 healthy |
Analyses of blood plasma, urine, and sweat Sweating induced by exercise or sauna, collected directly into bottle |
Sweat mean 31 (range 1.5–94) (n = 20) Blood plasma mean 0.12 (0.39–1.7) (n = 20) Urine mean 1.8 (0.91–7.5) (n = 20) |
| |||
Omokhodion and Crockford, 1991 [34] | UK 2 participants |
Blood, urine, and sweat lead measured before and following ingestion of lead chloride: 1 or 2 doses of lead chloride (20 mg PbCl2 total, in 1 or 2 divided doses). | Blood lead peaked at 4 h Sweat concentrations did not increase significantly (range 0–11) Blood concentration range 6–51 Urine concentration range 10–97 Arm sweat collections varied by more than 2-fold between arms at the same time on the same person |
| |||
Omokhodion and Howard, 1991 [35] | Unidentified “tropics” 19 workers in a lead battery factory 8 controls (medical students) |
Measured lead in sweat, blood, and urine simultaneously Sweating induced by exercising at room temperature. Sweat collected in arm bags. |
Workers: (i) blood lead 13–36 (ii) urine lead 28–290 μg/g creatinine (iii) sweat lead 72–260 Controls: (i) blood lead 90–120 (ii) urine lead 9–20 μg/g creatinine (iii) sweat lead 9–30 |
| |||
Omokhodion and Crockford, 1991 [36] | UK 24 normal, healthy subjects |
Measured lead in sweat, urine, blood, and saliva Sweat collected in arm bags, sitting in a hot chamber |
(i) Blood lead 86 (range 60–140) (ii) Urine lead 18 μg/g creatinine (range 7.7–44 μg/g creatinine) (iii) Mean sweat lead 5.2 (2.5–13) (iv) Saliva lead 4.8 (2.5–10) |
| |||
Parpaleĭ et al., 1991 [27] (in Russian—English abstract only) | Russia NR in abstract |
NR in abstract | “… sauna increased excretion with sweat fluid of toxic substances [lead] that penetrated the body during work. Sauna is recommended.” |
| |||
Lilley et al., 1988 [37] | Australia 9 lead workers volunteers had lead applied to skin |
Lead dust 6 h/day for 4 days 20 mg Pb dust on L arm of volunteer PbNO3 24 h of 60 mg PbNO3 on L arm of volunteer. |
Sweat lead in workers: 71–18,000 Following exposure, sweat lead from R arm increased approximately by 10x, returning to baseline after approximately by 2–4 days. Saliva increased approximately 5-6x. Urine and blood levels were unchanged |
| |||
Stauber and Florence, 1988 [28] | Australia 24 males 13 females taking oral contraceptives 26 not taking oral contraceptives |
Sweating induced on the forearms by pilocarpine iontophoresis and collected on a membrane filter | Mean sweat lead: (i) males: 41 (range 6–87) (ii) females not taking contraceptives: 24 (<5–66) (difference with males P < 0.01) (iii) females taking contraceptives: 36 (<5–70) |
| |||
Stauber and Florence, 1987 [22] | Australia 9 males 7 females taking oral contraceptives 6 not taking oral contraceptives (unclear overlap with 1988 participants) |
Sweating induced in the forearms by pilocarpine iontophoresis and collected on a membrane filter | No significant differences among groups Mean blood lead 200 Mean blood plasma lead 10 Mean sweat lead 15 |
| |||
Haber et al., 1985 [26] (in German-used extended abstract) | Germany 4 groups of 8 males 2 groups with occupational lead exposure 2 control groups |
Comparison of precisely defined physical work (intensive cycling and extended rowing in a pool), examining lead excretion in persons with elevated blood levels compared with nonexposed controls | Aerobic endurance training (rowing) caused a significant drop in the blood lead level in the occupationally exposed group (mean 430 (range 320–580) decreased to 370 (240–450)) (P < 0.05) Endurance training was more effective than shorter, more intensive training (cycling) Urine lead levels were not significantly affected by training |
| |||
Cohn and Emmett, 1978 [33] | USA 6 males 3 females |
Total body washdown and arm bag techniques | The mean concentration of lead in sweat was similar to that in urine (1) Total body sweat lead mean: (i) males: 24 (SD 16) (ii) females: 53 (range 40–60) (2) Body minus 1 arm/arm bag sweat lead 60 (SD 16) (40–120)/83 (86) (20–250) |
| |||
Hohnandel et al., 1973 [38] | 33 healthy males 15 females |
15 min of arm bag collection | Mean sweat lead: (i) males: 51 (range 8–180) (ii) females: 120 (SD 72) (49–280) |