A critical evaluation of the use and 'misuse' of As and Pb bioaccessibility data in human health risk assessments.

With the now widescale reporting of oral bioaccessibility data at contaminated sites, following our investigation of three sites (one public open space and two residential) for As and Pb contamination, a critical evaluation of the application and utility of such bioaccessibility testing was undertaken to better inform future use. Mean As and Pb soil levels across the sites varied between 12.5 and 24,900 mg/kg and 149-5930 mg/kg, respectively.

Estimation of daily intake of potentially toxic elements from urban street dust and the role of oral bioaccessibility testing.

The pseudo-total and oral bioaccessible concentration of six potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban street dust was investigated. Typical pseudo-total concentrations across the sampling sites ranged from 4.4 to 8.

The optimization of microwave digestion procedures and application to an evaluation of potentially toxic element contamination on a former industrial site.

The optimization of a microwave dissolution procedure for potentially toxic elements in a contaminated soil sample has been evaluated using a central composite design approach. By considering the operating parameters of temperature, digestion time, microwave power and acid volume it was possible to identify the following optimum conditions: temperature, 160 degrees C; power, 750 W; digestion time, 25 min; and, an aqua regia volume of 13 mL. These microwave digestion conditions were then applied to 19 samples obtained from a former industrial site in Newcastle upon Tyne.