Effect of lead speciation on its oral bioaccessibility in surface dust and soil of electronic-wastes recycling sites

- Bioaccessibility of Pb in e-waste surface matrices (dust and soil) was assessed.
- PBET test was used as in vitro bioaccessibility assay.
- Pb speciation was determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
- Specific Pb bioaccessibility and species were identified.
- Influence of Pb species on bioaccessibility was discussed statistically.

We measured bioaccessible lead (Pb) in simulated gastrointestinal fluids containing Pb-contaminated soil or dust from electronic waste (e-waste) recycling sites to assess the risk of Pb ingestion. The physiologically based extraction test (PBET) was used as in vitro bioaccessibility assay. Pb speciation was determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The total Pb concentrations in dusts (n = 8) and soils (n = 4) were in the range of 1630-131,000 and 239-7800 mg/kg, respectively. Metallic Pb, a common component of e-waste, was ubiquitous in the samples. We also found Pb adsorbed onto goethite and as oxides and carbonate, implying soil mixing and weathering influences. Pb phosphate and organic species were only found in the soil samples, suggesting that formation was soil-specific. We identified other Pb compounds in several samples, including Pb silicate, Pb chromate, and Pb(II) hydrogen phosphate. A correlation analysis indicated that metallic Pb decreased bioaccessibility in the stomach, while a Pb speciation analysis revealed a low bioaccessibility for Pb phosphates and high bioaccessibility for organic Pb species. The health risk based on bioaccessible Pb was estimated to be much lower than that of total Pb due to the lower concentrations.

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