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How can toxic workplace chemicals enter the body through the skin or lungs?

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Asbestosis — occupational disease The lung disease asbestosis is caused primarily by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. It occurs mainly among workers whose occupations involve exposure to asbestos and people who live near mines, factories, and construction sites.

In the workplace, toxic chemicals can enter the body through the skin or lungs via several mechanisms:

Absorption Through the Skin

Chemicals can penetrate the skin through a process called percutaneous absorption. While the stratum corneum acts as a protective barrier, certain substances can bypass it.1
* Lipid Solubility: Liquid chemicals that are highly lipid-soluble can readily diffuse through the skin.1
* Molecular Weight: Absorption rates generally increase as the molecular weight of a chemical decreases.1
* Skin Condition: Absorption is faster when the skin is moist rather than dry, and it varies by body site; areas like the forehead, axilla, back, and abdomen are more permeable than the palms or soles of the feet.1
* Direct Contact: Some volatile hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds, such as benzene, are rapidly absorbed following direct skin contact.2

Absorption Through the Lungs

The respiratory tract is a primary route for occupational exposure to gases, vapors, aerosols, and dusts.3
* Inhalation: Airborne contaminants are inhaled and can act as local irritants or be absorbed into the systemic circulation.3
* Physicochemical Properties: Toxicity via inhalation depends on factors such as the contaminant's concentration, particle size, and its solubility in body fluids.3
* Systemic Effects: Once inhaled, substances like gasoline vapors or benzene can cause systemic poisoning, leading to effects ranging from dizziness and nausea to severe organ damage or respiratory distress.24