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Oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements in household dust from former Hg mining district, Idrija, Slovenia

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Abstract

One of the main sources of potential chronic exposure to potentially toxic elements is household dust, especially in an environment with known point sources of PTE pollution. The literature review clearly shows that the total concentrations of an element in the environment do not provide information to predict its bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of PTE present in household dust in the small town of Idrija, the site of the former mercury mine. Unified bioaccessibility method was used to assess oral bioaccessibility of PTE in the stomach and intestine, while inhalation bioaccessibility was assessed by extraction of household dust samples with two synthetic extraction solutions—Gamble’s solution (GS) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF). A low bioaccessibility of mercury was observed in all synthetic solutions (less than 3%). The highest bioaccessibility of PTE was observed in ALF solution, especially for Zn, Pb and Cd. Only a slightly lower bioaccessibility of these three elements was also observed in the stomach, while the bioaccessibility of other elements in the gastric phase was less than 40%. In general, the bioaccessibility of all elements decreased in the intestine. With the exception of Cr, the lowest bioaccessibility of the elements was observed in GS. Daily ingestion and inhalation doses of PTE from household dust were calculated and their values were below the available recommended or tolerable daily intakes of PTE from food according to the European Food Safety Authority.

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Abbreviations

ALF:

Artificial lysosomal fluid

ARS:

Aqua regia soluble (concentration)

ATSDR:

Agency for toxic substances and disease registry

F:

Frequency of exposure

G:

Gastric phase in UBM

GI:

Gastrointestinal phase in UBM

GS:

Gamble’s solution

LOD:

Limit of detection

PBET:

Physiologically based extraction test

PEF:

Particulate emission factor

PM:

Particulate matter

PTE:

Potentially toxic elements

SBET:

Simplified bioaccessibility extraction test

SLF:

Simulated lung fluid

UBM:

Unified bioaccessibility method

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Acknowledgements

The part of the research was carried out on equipment of the Network of Research Infrastructure Centres of the University of Ljubljana (MRIC UL). The authors would like to thank the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) for the financial support of MRIC UL and for the financial support from the research programme P1-0134b: Chemistry for Sustainable Development (carried out at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology), the research programme P1-0020: Groundwaters and Geochemistry (carried out at Geological survey of Slovenia) and the research project J1-1713 (C): Dynamics and matter flow of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban environment (carried out at Geological survey of Slovenia).

Funding

Financial support for this research was provided by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) through the financial support of the Network of Research Infrastructure Centres of the University of Ljubljana (MRIC UL) and the programmes P1-0134b: Chemistry for Sustainable Development (carried out at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology) and P1-0020: Groundwaters and Geochemistry (carried out at Geological survey of Slovenia) and the research project J1-1713 (C): Dynamics and matter flow of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban environment (carried out at Geological survey of Slovenia).

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MZ was involved in conception and design, methodology, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article. MŠ helped in acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data. ŠB contributed to conception and design, methodology, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article. MG was involved in conception and design, methodology, sampling, revising.

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Correspondence to Marija Zupančič.

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Zupančič, M., Šušteršič, M., Bavec, Š. et al. Oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements in household dust from former Hg mining district, Idrija, Slovenia. Environ Geochem Health 43, 3505–3531 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00835-z

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