A critical evaluation of the use and ‘misuse’ of As and Pb bioaccessibility data in human health risk assessments

Dean, John, Amaibi, Patrick, Okorie, Alexander and Entwistle, Jane (2020) A critical evaluation of the use and ‘misuse’ of As and Pb bioaccessibility data in human health risk assessments. Environmental Research, 189. p. 109915. ISSN 0013-9351

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109915

Abstract

With the now widescale reporting of oral bioaccessibility data at contaminated sites, following our investigation
of three sites (one public open space and two residential) for As and Pb contamination, a critical evaluation of the
application and utility of such bioaccessibility testing was undertaken to better inform future use. Mean As and
Pb soil levels across the sites varied between 12.5 and 24,900 mg/kg and 149–5930 mg/kg, respectively. Using
the Unified Bioaccessibility Method (UBM) for in vitro bioaccessibility testing the highest bioaccessible concentrations were identified in the gastric phase. At site 1, a residential urban garden site the maximum bioaccessible As was 50.2% while the maximum bioaccessible Pb was 64.8%; similarly in site 2, also a residential
urban garden site the maximum bioaccessible As was 38.72% while the maximum bioaccessible Pb was 66.0%.
However, at site 3, a public open space site, the maximum bioaccessible As was 29.7% while the maximum
bioaccessible Pb was 38.4%. Using the appropriate soil screening values and recommended statistical testing, we
highlight that the use of bioaccessibility testing was unnecessary at sites 1 and 2 (residential urban garden sites), while at site 3 the value of oral bioaccessibility testing is highlighted as part of a ‘lines of evidence approach’ to support the site’s specific risk assessment. We need to move away from the uncritical, blanket application of oral bioacessibility testing and strategically target where the results of these data add real value to site determination.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: The authors wish to thank the Niger Delta development Commission (NDDC/DEHSS/2012PGFS/RIV/0016), Nigeria, for funding the research at sites 1 and 2, Natalie Kennedy for providing support for PA to undertake work as sites 1 and 2, and Grant Richardson for providing support to AO to undertake work at Site 3. We are also grateful to Mr. Gordon Forrest and Mr. Dave Thomas, Northumbria University, for their technical assistance.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Soil, Arsenic, Lead, Oral bioaccessibility, Human health risk assessment
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Applied Sciences
Depositing User: Ellen Cole
Date Deposited: 09 Jul 2020 10:50
Last Modified: 26 Aug 2021 15:32
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/43715

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