Metal concentration and bioaccessibility in different particle sizes of dust and aerosols to refine metal exposure assessment

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 317; pp. 552 - 562
• Main Authors: Goix, Sylvaine, Uzu, Gaëlle, Oliva, Priscia, Barraza, Fiorella, Calas, Aude, Castet, Sylvie, Point, David, Masbou, Jeremy, Duprey, Jean-Louis, Huayta, Carlos, Chincheros, Jaime, Gardon, Jacques
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.11.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Biological Availability; Bolivia; Child; Dust - analysis; Exposure assessment; Gastric bioaccessibility; Humans; Inhalation Exposure - analysis; Life Sciences; Lung bioaccessibility; Metal; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Mining; Models, Biological; Particle Size; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Particle size; Lung bioaccessibility; Metal; Gastric bioaccessibility; Exposure assessment
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.083

[Display omitted] •Metal bioaccesibility and size distribution are different in smelting and mining area.•Consider particles <50μm to avoid underestimating exposure to children.•Gastric bioaccessibility varies according to particle size but not linearly.•Modelization of particles deposition in lungs refines exposure assessment.•Contribution from oral or inhalation to internal exposures depends on the metal. Refined exposure assessments were realized for children, 7–9yrs, in the mining/smelting city of Oruro, Bolivia. Aerosols (PM>2.5, PM1-2.5, PM0.4-1 and PM0.5) and dust (separated in different particle size fractions: 2000–200μm, 200–50μm, 50–20μm, 20–2μm and <2μm) were sampled on football fields highly frequented by children in both the mining and smelting areas. Trace element concentrations (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn) in each size fraction of dust and aerosols, lung bioaccessibility of metals in aerosols, and gastric bioaccessibility of metals in dust were measured. Exposure was assessed considering actual external exposure (i.e. exposure pathways: metals inhaled and ingested) and simulated internal exposure (i.e., complex estimation using gastric and lung bioaccessibility, deposition and clearance of particles in lungs). Significant differences between external and simulated internal exposure were attributed to dissemblances in gastric and lung bioaccessibilities, as well as metal distribution within particle size range, revealing the importance of both parameters in exposure assessment.