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

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.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of PTE in household dust in a small town, revealing low bioaccessibility for mercury and varying bioaccessibility for different elements in the stomach and intestine. Daily ingestion and inhalation doses of PTE from household dust were found to be below recommended limits by the European Food Safety Authority.