These defenses include nose hairs to filter out large particles, and a mucous system in the bronchi to trap medium size particles. These defenses do not work very well for very small particles. This is why lead fumes, which are very small particles of lead, are so much more hazardous than lead dust as far as inhalation exposures are concerned. This route of exposure is the one that has been of concern for small children. Interior paint chips are sometimes swallowed by children, a problem made worse by the fact that lead paints sometimes have a slightly sweet taste.
Kids also like to mouth toys and objects.
The digestive system will absorb much of the lead into the bloodstream, and the resulting exposure can cause severe lead poisoning. Because of this, lead paint for use on interior surfaces and toys has been banned for many years. The digestive system. Although adult workers are not exposed this way, ingestion exposures can happen on the job in surprising ways. There have been documented cases where workers consumed significant amounts of lead via contact of dusty unwashed hands with food and even cigarettes.