Abstract
This chapter discusses the analytical protocols that have been developed to assess the bioaccessibility of contaminants potentially able to impact human health. In order to evaluate a contaminant’s bioaccessibility, the physiological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract or lung environment must be reproduced in the laboratory. Most research efforts in the bioaccessibility of trace elements have taken place in the context of urban environments. Urban soil is the most thoroughly studied solid matrix in urban environments as regards the bioaccessibility of trace elements in its composition. Harmonisation of gastrointestinal and lung bioaccessibility analytical protocols should be followed by unification of criteria for how their results are used and interpreted in human health risk assessments. Failure to consider this bioaccessibility in a risk assessment leads to numerical outcomes of risk that may overestimate the real value by more than one order of magnitude.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Urban Pollution |
Subtitle of host publication | Science and Management |
Editors | Susanne M Charlesworth, Colin Booth |
Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
Chapter | 8 |
Pages | 107-118 |
Number of pages | 12 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119260493 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781119260486 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Oct 2018 |
Keywords
- Analytical protocols
- Bioaccessibility
- Health risk assessments
- Trace elements
- Urban environments
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)