Evaluation of a low-cost commercially available extraction device for assessing lead bioaccessibility in contaminated soilsDisclaimer: The United States Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development funded and managed the research described here. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use

• Main Authors: Nelson, Clay M, Gilmore, Thomas M, Harrington, James M, Scheckel, Kirk G, Miller, Bradley W, Bradham, Karen D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27.02.2013
• ISSN: 2050-7887; 2050-7895
• DOI: 10.1039/c2em30789h

The U.S. EPA's in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) method 9200.1-86 defines a validated analytical procedure for the determination of lead bioaccessibility in contaminated soils. The method requires the use of a custom-fabricated extraction device that uses a heated water bath for sample incubation. In an effort to improve ease of use, increase sample throughput, and reduce equipment acquisition and maintenance costs, an alternative low-cost, commercially available extraction device capable of sample incubation via heated air and end-over-end rotation was evaluated. An intra-laboratory study was conducted to compare lead bioaccessibility values derived using the two extraction devices. IVBA values were not statistically different ( α = 0.05) between the two extraction devices for any of the soils ( n = 6) evaluated in this study, with an average difference in mean lead IVBA of 0.8% (s.d. = 0.5%). The commercially available extraction device was able to generate accurate lead IVBA data as compared to the U.S. EPA's expected value for a National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference material soil. The relative percent differences between high and low IVBA values for each soil, a measure of instrument precision, were also not statistically different ( α = 0.05) between the two extraction devices. The statistical agreement of lead IVBA values observed using the two extraction devices supports the use of a low-cost, commercially available extraction device as a reliable alternative to a custom-fabricated device as required by EPA method 9200.1-86. A low-cost, commercially available soil extraction device was evaluated as an alternative to a custom-fabricated device required by EPA method 9200.1-86 to measure bioaccessible lead in contaminated soil.