In vitro bioaccessibility and health risk assessment of heavy metals in atmospheric particulate matters from three different functional areas of Shanghai, China

- PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in three different areas of Shanghai were investigated.
- Both PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the three areas exceeded the WHO guideline.
- Zn and Pb were the most abundant heavy metals in both PM2.5 and PM10.
- Bioaccessibility of metals in both respiratory and digestion systems were evaluated.
- Health risks to children and adults mainly resulted from Pb via ingestion exposure.

The bioaccessibility and human health risks of heavy metals in PM2.5 and PM10 samples from three functional areas of Shanghai, China including a commercial area (CA), a residential area (RA), and an industrial area (IA), were investigated. Gamble's solution and physiologically based extraction test were employed to simulate human respiratory and digestive system, respectively. Both PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the three areas exceeded the guideline of WHO, and followed the order of IA > CA ≈ RA. Zinc and Pb were the most abundant metals with a concentration range of 0.19-0.44 and 0.05-0.42 μg m− 3, respectively. In respiratory system, heavy metal bioaccessibility for PM2.5 and PM10 varied within the range of 5.3%-71.4% and 4.8%-51.5%, respectively. Heavy metals in RA showed higher bioaccessibility than those in CA and IA in the respiratory system. In digestive system, heavy metal bioaccessibility for PM2.5 and PM10 reached 24.6%-90.9% and 28.5%-88.9% in the gastric phase and was reduced to 8.7%-85.5% and 8.5%-81.8% in the intestinal phase, respectively. The bioaccessibility of heavy metals in CA was highest among three areas in the digestive system. Based on the bioaccessibility analysis, the hazard quotient values of heavy metals in PMs via inhalation exposure were far below 1, the safe level, for both adults and children. However, potential risks via ingestion exposure resulted from Pb existed for children of three areas and for adults of RA as their hazard quotient values could reach up to 11. The obtained results indicated that the air quality in Shanghai need to be improved and the health risks to humans via ingestion exposure to atmospheric Pb must be considered.

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