Bioaccessibility and other key parameters in assessing oral exposure to PAH-contaminated soils and dust: A critical review

ABSTRACT

Soil ingestion is an important pathway for human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soils and dust for children (via ingesting hand residue) as well as for adults (via occupational exposure). An appropriate selection of exposure parameter values is essential for having an accurate risk assessment. This review addresses key parameters for estimating oral exposure to PAH-contaminated soils/dust, discusses their variability and uncertainty, and provides recommendations for value selection. Bioaccessibility (contaminant fraction solubilized in gastro-intestinal tract, available for entering bloodstream and reaching target organs) and soil ingestion rate are two key parameters for exposure assessment (usually characterized by large variability and/or uncertainty), followed by exposure frequency/duration and body weight.

KEYWORDS:

• bioaccessibility
• exposure assessment
• PAH
• soil contamination
• soil ingestion
• risk characterization

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Frederic Perié and Mr. Jean-Paul Cazalets for their valuable comments during the course of the project.

Funding

The authors would like to thank Total S.A. for funding part of this research program.