Differences in lead bioavailability between a smelting and a mining area.

Abstract

Soils and housedusts were collected from three areas of Pribram,an historic metal mining and smelting town in the Czech Republic. The main objectives of the study were: (i) to assessthe influence of physico-chemical form, particle size, soilproperties and contaminant source on Pb bioavailability andexposure risk; (ii) compare the Pb bioavailability data obtainedfrom the mining and smelting areas and assess whether anydifferences observed could be attributed to the factors thoughtto exert an influence. Lead concentrations were highest in thesmelter area. Mining area garden soils also contained elevatedPb concentrations. Solubility of housedust Pb in 0.12 M HCl (asurrogate for stomach acid) was similar in all study areas andwas similar to values reported in the literature. However, 0.12M HCl solubility of garden soil Pb was low in the mining areacompared to the other study areas and compared to other urbanareas. Blood Pb concentrations were also relatively low in themining area compared to the other study areas and the reducedsoil Pb solubility observed in this area was suspected as aninfluencing factor. However, exposure pathways may also beimportant in explaining the differences observed.