Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you have safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Environmental Topics
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Report a Violation
  • About EPA
Contact Us

Grantee Research Project Results

1999 Progress Report: Bioavailability & Risk Assessment of Complex Mixtures

EPA Grant Number: R825408
Title: Bioavailability & Risk Assessment of Complex Mixtures
Investigators: Donnelly, Kirby C. , Reeves, William
Current Investigators: Donnelly, Kirby C. , Safe, Stephen H. , Autenrieth, R. L. , McDonald, T. J. , Reeves, William , Huebner, Henry J.
Institution: Texas A & M University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 15, 1996 through November 14, 1999 (Extended to April 15, 2000)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 15, 1998 through November 14, 1999
Project Amount: $443,997
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:

The proposed research is designed to develop an accurate methodology for estimating risk and bioaccessibility of complex mixtures in soil at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The three major objectives are to: (1) develop a protocol for preparation of a water soluble fraction (WSF) as a method for estimating residual contaminant concentrations that are protective of human health and the environment; (2) develop a quantitative toxicokinetic model using genotoxicity and enzyme induction assays to interpret the interactions of complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs); and (3) validate the WSF protocol by analysis and risk assessment of soils from four Superfund sites.

Progress Summary:

The results of the initial WSF experiments have been compiled and prepared for submission to Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. The paper should be submitted in the coming weeks.

The five fractions isolated from a complex PAH mixture have been analyzed in the Salmonella/microsome assay and the Chicken Embryo Screening Test; they currently are being run in the Gap Junction Intercellular Communication Assay. The first two assays revealed that toxic equivalency factors, as forwarded by Nisbet and LaGoy (1992), do not predict the relative toxicity of the fractions. Additionally, the relative potencies forwarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do not predict relative potencies. The sum of the total carcinogenic PAHs present seems to be the best indicator of toxicity at this time. An additional assay examining the cytochrome P450 induction potential of the fractions is planned for the coming months.

The urine samples from the coal tar contaminated soil feeding study have been analyzed. The results indicate that aging of the soil had no significant impact on the rats' uptake and excretion of pyrene from the soil. Results of Kd measurements and desorption experiments with the soils indicated similar results. Analyses of the livers will begin shortly.

Sediment samples contaminated with PAHs from different sources were collected in July 1999, and experiments to determine the partitioning and desorption behavior of the PAHs are under way.

Future Activities:

The final bioassays with the fractions will be completed by this spring. Analyses of the liver samples from the feeding study should be completed within the upcoming weeks. Finally, desorption and partitioning measurements with the PAH-contaminated sediments from Superfund sites are scheduled to be completed before mid-April 2000. The data from these studies will be used to produce three additional manuscripts for submission to technical journals.


Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views: All 8 publications 4 publications in selected types All 4 journal articles
Publications
Type Citation Project Document Sources
Journal Article Bordelon NR, Donnelly KC, King LC, Wolf DC, Reeves WR, George SE. Bioavailability of the genotoxic components in coal tar contaminated soils in Fischer 344 rats. Toxicological Sciences 2000;56(1):37-48. R825408 (1998)
R825408 (1999)
not available

Supplemental Keywords:

bioaccessibility, complex mixtures, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, toxicity, toxic equivalency factor, remediation, hazardous waste sites., RFA, Health, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Toxics, Remediation, Health Risk Assessment, Fate & Transport, pesticides, Risk Assessments, chemical mixtures, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Geochemistry, Bioavailability, contaminant transport, environmental transport and fate, toxicity, toxicokinetics, coal gasification sites, Toxic Equivalency Factor, assessment methods, PAH metal mixtures, contaminated sediment, adverse human health affects, dioxins, hazardous materials exposure, human exposure, risk assessment, risk assessment techniques, chemical contaminants, fate, soil sediment, soils, contaminated soil, complex mixtures, cumulative risk, effects assessment, fate and transport, furans, sediment transport, geotoxicity, hazardous waste sites, transport contaminants, vadose zone, characterizing chemical mixtures, environmental toxicant, human health risk, PAH, acceptable residue levels, complex mitures, environmental chemicals, exposure assessment, public health, Superfund sites

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract
  • 1997 Progress Report
  • 1998 Progress Report
  • Final Report
  • Top of Page

    The 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.

    Project Research Results

    • Final Report
    • 1998 Progress Report
    • 1997 Progress Report
    • Original Abstract
    8 publications for this project
    4 journal articles for this project

    Site Navigation

    • Grantee Research Project Results Home
    • Grantee Research Project Results Basic Search
    • Grantee Research Project Results Advanced Search
    • Grantee Research Project Results Fielded Search
    • Publication search
    • EPA Regional Search

    Related Information

    • Search Help
    • About our data collection
    • Research Grants
    • P3: Student Design Competition
    • Research Fellowships
    • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
    Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
    Last updated April 28, 2023
    United States Environmental Protection Agency

    Discover.

    • Accessibility
    • Budget & Performance
    • Contracting
    • EPA www Web Snapshot
    • Grants
    • No FEAR Act Data
    • Plain Writing
    • Privacy
    • Privacy and Security Notice

    Connect.

    • Data.gov
    • Inspector General
    • Jobs
    • Newsroom
    • Open Government
    • Regulations.gov
    • Subscribe
    • USA.gov
    • White House

    Ask.

    • Contact EPA
    • EPA Disclaimers
    • Hotlines
    • FOIA Requests
    • Frequent Questions

    Follow.