A large number of patients in a small town hospital were reported to have complained of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and headaches. It was discovered that they were all workers at the same manufacturing plant and were exposed to high levels of lead. Discuss how the lead that these workers were exposed to may have been absorbed and distributed in the body.

Your response should be at least 250 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.