Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Development of Chemical Methods to Assess the Bioavailability of Arsenic in Contaminated Media
EPA Grant Number: R825410Title: Development of Chemical Methods to Assess the Bioavailability of Arsenic in Contaminated Media
Investigators: Basta, Nicholas T. , Rodriguez, Robin R. , Casteel, Stan W.
Institution: Oklahoma State University , University of Missouri - Columbia
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 1, 1996 through October 31, 1999 (Extended to October 31, 2000)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 1999 through October 31, 2000
Project Amount: $431,677
RFA: Environmental Fate and Treatment of Toxics and Hazardous Wastes (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Safer Chemicals , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
Soil ingestion from incidental hand-to-mouth activity by children is an important issue in assessing public health risks associated with exposure to arsenic-contaminated soils and media. Use of the swine model for bioavailability determinations has been thoroughly validated for lead and arsenic-contaminated materials. Several disadvantages using animal models to measure contaminant bioavailability include expense, specialized facilities, and personnel. Chemical methods (chemical fractionation, in vitro gastrointestinal) that provide a reasonable estimate of the bioavailable arsenic in contaminated media may provide rapid and inexpensive information needed to characterize risk at Superfund sites.The objectives of this research project are to provide answers to the following questions:
1. Can chemical fractionation and in vitro gastrointestinal (IVG) laboratory methods provide accurate assessments of bioavailable arsenic in contaminated media?
2. Can an IVG method that simulates gastrointestinal (GI) absorption provide a more accurate estimate of arsenic bioavailability than an IVG method that does not simulate GI absorption?
3. Is arsenic bioavailability a function of arsenic concentration where soil may serve as a sink and decrease arsenic bioavailability? To answer these questions, arsenic measured by chemical methods (chemical fractionation and in vitro gastrointestinal methods) are compared with arsenic uptake by immature pigs for contaminated media (soil and slag) collected from smelter sites.
Progress Summary:
A 1-year, no-cost extension was requested and the extension was granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most activity conducted during the reporting period involved completing "loose ends." Immature urine samples were reanalyzed by a recently Standard Operating Procedure produced by Dr. Casteel. Some soil extractions were repeated to confirm previous results or replace suspect results. New data were used to perform calculations and statistical analysis required to evaluate Objectives 1 and 3.Future Activities:
The grant has been completed. The only future activity will be the preparation and submission of the final grant report.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 20 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
soil, sediments, absorption, exposure, risk, risk assessment, human health, bioavailability, dose-response, carcinogen, children, chemicals, toxics, heavy metals, remediation, cleanup, environmental chemistry, biology, analytical, measurement methods, cleanup levels, remediation endpoints, site-specific bioavailability, oral bioavailability, health effects., Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Waste, Water, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Fate & Transport, Risk Assessments, Chemistry, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Epidemiology, Arsenic, Children's Health, Bioavailability, health effects, toxicity, arsenic mobility, contaminant transport, contaminated sediment, kinetic studies, mining impacted watershed, contaminated mines, ingestion, risk assessment, adverse human health affects, human exposure, dermal contact, chemical contaminants, fate, risk characterization, soil sediment, soils, animal research, sediment transport, hazardous waste, children, fate and transport, ecology assessment models, transport contaminants, chronic health effects, hazardous waste sites, environmental toxicant, superfund site, chemical speciation, human health effects, soil ingestion, exposure assessment, mobility, arsenic exposureRelevant Websites:
http://www.agr.okstate.edu/soilchem
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.