Assessment of health risks due to arsenic from iron ore lumps in a beach setting (original) (raw)
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Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain)
Chemosphere, 2007
Eighty samples of sandy substrate were collected in November 2002 and 2003, from 20 municipal playgrounds in Madrid (Spain) to 12 assess the potential adverse health effects of the exposure of children to trace elements in this material during their games. In each play-13 ground, two 500 g samples were collected, dried at 45°C for 48 h, sieved below 100 lm, acid digested and analyzed by ICP-MS. Doses 14 contacted through ingestion and inhalation and the dose absorbed through the skin were calculated using USEPAs hourly exposure 15 parameters for children and the results of an in situ survey. The toxicity values considered in this study were mostly taken from the 16 US DoEs RAIS compilation. The results of the risk assessment indicate that the highest risk is associated with ingestion of soil particles 17 and that the trace element of most concern is arsenic, the exposure to which results in a cancer risk value of 4.19 · 10 À6 , close to the 18 1 · 10 À5 probability level deemed unacceptable by most regulatory agencies. Regarding non-cancer effects, exposure to playground sub-19 strate yields an aggregate Hazard Index of 0.28, below the threshold value of 1 (with As, again, as the largest single contributor, followed 20 by Pb, Cr, Al and Mn). Although the uncertainties associated with the estimates of toxicity values and exposure factors should be 21 reduced before any definite conclusions regarding potential health effects are drawn, risk assessment has proven to be a very useful tool 22 to identify the contaminants and exposure pathways of most concern in urban environments. 23
Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 2021
The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) and the carcinogenic risk index (CRI) due to exposure to metal(loid)s were assessed in children and adults living adjacent to a beach contaminated with mine tailings. Chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) were determined in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sedimented dust (SD) in school and residential microenvironments. The HI in children was 13.8, 8.1, 5.4, 2.4, 2.3 and 1.8-times greater than the safety threshold (1.0) for Cr, As, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Cd, respectively; 84.1 % explained by dermal contact and 10.9 % by ingestion of SD. The CRI for Cr and As was 3.7 and 3.2 times above the acceptable risk (> 1 × 10–4), explained by the inhalation of PM2.5 and SD, respectively. In adults, the CRI for As and Cr was 46.0 and 2.8 times greater than 1 × 10–4; As risk is explained by dermal contact and inhalation of SD, and Cr by inhalation of PM2.5. This study reports a high risk...
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2007
In order to test the value of an integrated approach for the analysis of health risks at contaminated sites, an integrated health risk assessment in a mining area was performed following 3 steps: 1) Environmental monitoring of surface soil, 2) assessment of exposure to metals in children and native rodents, and 3) DNA damage evaluation (comet assay) in children and rodents. These aspects also were studied in less exposed populations. Our results in humans showed that children living in the most polluted area (Villa de la Paz, Mexico) had higher lead blood concentrations (geometric mean of 13.8 lg/dL) and urinary arsenic levels (geometric mean of 52.1 lg/g creatinine) compared to children living in a control area (Matehuala, Mexico; blood lead of 7.3 lg/dL; urinary arsenic of 16.8 lg/g creatinine). Furthermore, the exposed children also had increased DNA damage (tail moment mean in Villa de la Paz of 4.8 vs 3.9 in Matehuala; p , 0.05). Results in rodents were identical. Animals captured in the polluted area had higher levels of arsenic (geometric mean of 1.3 lg/g in liver and 1.8 lg/g in kidney), lead (0.2 lg/g in liver and 0.9 lg/g in kidney), and cadmium (0.8 lg/g in liver and 2.2 lg/g in kidney), and increased DNA damage (tail moment mean of 18.2) when compared to control animals (arsenic in liver of 0.08 lg/g and kidney of 0.1 lg/g; lead in liver of 0.06 lg/g and kidney of 0.3 lg/g; cadmium in liver of 0.06 lg/g and kidney of 0.6 lg/g; and tail moment of 14.2). With the data in children and rodents, the weight-of-evidence for health risks (in this case DNA damage) associated with metal exposure in Villa de la Paz was strengthened. Therefore, a remediation program was easier to justify, and a feasibility study at this site is under way.
Science of The Total Environment, 2014
The aim of this research was to estimate the risk of human exposure to arsenic due to sporting activities in a private soccer club in Mexico, where arsenic-contaminated water was regularly used for irrigation. For this purpose, the total concentration in the topsoil was considered for risk assessment. This was accomplished through three main objectives: (1) measuring arsenic concentrations in irrigation water and irrigated soils, (2) determining arsenic spatial distribution in shallow soils with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) using geostatistical analysis, and (3) collecting field and survey data to develop a risk assessment calculation for soccer activities in the soccer club. The results showed that the average arsenic concentrations in shallow soils (138.1 mg/kg) were 6.2 times higher than the Mexican threshold for domestic soils (22 mg/kg). Furthermore, dermal contact between exposed users and contaminated soils accounted for a maximum carcinogenic risk value of 1.8 × 10 −5 , which is one order of magnitude higher than the recommended risk value, while arsenic concentrations in the irrigation water were higher (6 mg/L) than the WHO's permissible threshold in drinking water, explaining the contamination of soils after irrigation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first risk study regarding dermal contact with arsenic following regular grass irrigation with contaminated water in soccer pitches.
Use of background inorganic arsenic exposures to provide perspective on risk assessment results
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2007
Background exposures provide perspective for interpreting calculated health risks associated with naturally occurring substances such as arsenic. Background inorganic arsenic intake from diet and water for children (ages 1-6 years) and all ages of the U.S. population was modeled stochastically using consumption data from USDA, published data on inorganic arsenic in foods, and EPA data on arsenic in drinking water. Mean and 90th percentile intakes for the U.S. population were 5.6 and 10.5 lg/day, assuming nationwide compliance with the 10 lg/L U.S. drinking water standard. Intakes for children were slightly lower (3.5 and 5.9 lg/day). Based on the current EPA cancer slope factor for arsenic, estimated lifetime risks associated with background diet and water at the mean and 90th percentile are 1 per 10,000 and 2 per 10,000, respectively. By comparison, reasonable maximum risks for arsenic in soil at 20 (higher typical background level) and 100 mg/kg are 4 per 100,000 and 2 per 10,000, using EPA default exposure assumptions. EPA reasonable maximum estimates of arsenic exposure from residential use of treated wood are likewise within background intakes. These examples provide context on how predicted risks compare to typical exposures within the U.S. population, thereby providing perspective for risk communication and regulatory decision-making on arsenic in the environment and in consumer products.
2003
Widespread use of arsenical pesticides has resulted in increased background arsenic in agricultural soils. Since arsenic is a Group-A carcinogen, an elevated health risk is associated with human exposure to these soils. Encroachment of suburban development on former agricultural lands has tremendously increased the potential for human contact with arsenic. The importance of considering soil ingestion from incidental hand-to-mouth activity by children has been emphasized in several recent studies. Reports indicate that arsenic bioavailability is much higher in water than in soils, indicating that the current practice of health risk assessment using the "water model" overestimates the risk, and hence, soil-cleanup costs. Although studies have been conducted to assess arsenic bioavailability in highly contaminated media, a universal model for assessing arsenic bioavailability in low-contamination soil systems is lacking. A laboratory incubation study is currently in progress to identify the relationship between geochemical speciation and in-vitro bioavailability of arsenic in soils as a function of soil and pesticide properties. Five different soils were chosen based on their potential differences in arsenic reactivity. The soils were amended with two inorganic and one organic arsenic pesticide at three rates. A sequential extraction scheme was developed to identify the various geochemical forms of arsenic in these soils. Concentrations of these operationally defined soil-arsenic forms are being correlated with the in-vitro bioavailable fractions to identify the arsenic species that are most bioavailable. This study will provide realistic starting points in site-and composition-specific health risk assessment associated with exposure to low doses of soil arsenic.
Journal of Environmental Management, 2013
Arsenic is a carcinogenic metalloid and the risks of accidental ingestion should therefore be borne in mind when assessing areas with high levels of this element. In this work, the concentrations of bioaccessible As in mining-influenced soils, in SE Spain are determined. The risk posed by the accidental ingestion is studied in two soil fractions (<2 mm and <250 mm), taking into consideration the possible uses of the soils (residential/agricultural) and possible receptors (adults and/or children). The properties and mineralogical composition of 26 soil samples are analysed. The results showed that the use of a conservative approach to calculate the Chemical Daily Intake (CDI) based on the total concentrations of arsenic, may overestimate the risk existing in the zone, leading to problems in the management of contaminated soils. The paper emphasises the importance of considering the amount of bioaccessible As in the <250 mm fraction before permitting land near temporary watercourses to be used for residential purposes, as beaches or for agriculture.
International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2013
The 'Agios Philippos' lead-zinc mine in the Kirki region (NE Greece) is now closed, but its legacy of heavy metal contamination remains at the site. At present, management of the contaminated land is of major concern. The area is in a reclamation process and requires immediate remediation action, whereas human risks need to be carefully evaluated. In order to assess these risks, samples from around the mine were collected and analyzed and a scenario involving the oral, dermal, and inhaled doses of arsenic and heavy metals was formulated. A Monte Carlo approach was undertaken, in order to model the average daily dose and quantify the corresponding hazard index and cancer risk. A toxicological risk was associated with samples collected in the vicinity of the mine (floatation, mine tailings) and a pronounced carcinogenic risk for arsenic was evident at the broader occupational/environmental setting. These findings urge for immediate rehabilitation actions that will mitigate population exposures and promote long-term environmental safety in the area.
Risk Assessment for Children Exposed to Arsenic on Baseball Fields with Contaminated Fill Material
International journal of environmental research and public health, 2018
Children can be exposed to arsenic through play areas which may have contaminated fill material from historic land use. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the risk to children who play and/or spend time at baseball fields with soils shown to have arsenic above background levels. Arsenic in soils at the study sites located in Miami, FL, USA showed distinct distributions between infield, outfield, and areas adjacent to the fields. Using best estimates of exposure factors for children baseball scenarios, results show that non-cancer risks depend most heavily upon the age of the person and the arsenic exposure level. For extreme exposure scenarios evaluated in this study, children from 1 to 2 years were at highest risk for non-cancer effects (Hazard Quotient, HQ > 2.4), and risks were higher for children exhibiting pica (HQ > 9.7) which shows the importance of testing fill for land use where children may play. At the study sites, concentration levels of arsenic res...