Derivation of a target level of lead in soil at residential sites corresponding to a de minimis contribution to blood lead concentration
- New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection and Energy, Trenton, NJ (United States)
Inability to define either a clear toxicologic threshold or a stochastic all-or-nothing (cancer-type) response model for the noncarcinogenic effects of lead (Pb) in young children has posed difficulties for derivation of risk-based target levels of Pb in residential soil. Approaches based on empirical relationships between Pb levels in blood (PbB) and Pb in soil suffer from inability to specify the numerous variables which mediate between these two quantities. Approaches based on achieving a toxicologically de minimis target PbB level (e.g., 10 [mu]g/dl) are subject to large uncertainty in estimating the distribution of existing PbB levels in a specific exposed population and in estimating the relative contribution from nonsoil sources of Pb. The multisource contribution to the distribution of PbB makes this approach unsuited for determination of a target Pb level in a single medium. An alternative approach is presented based on achieving a de minimis contribution to PbB ([Delta]PbB) from soil. Contributions to Pb exposure from outdoor soil and indoor soil-derived dust (ISDD) are modeled and appropriate values are suggested for input parameters. This analysis predicts that chronic exposure of young children to 200 [mu]g Pb/g (ppm) in residential soil will result in a [Delta]PbB of 2 [mu]g Pb/dl blood. This concentration of Pb in soil may provide an appropriate target level for residential soil when other significant sources of Pb exposure are present. In other cases, this approach can be used to predict a soil concentration of Pb corresponding to an appropriate non-de minimis [Delta]PbB. 39 refs., 1 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 7065770
- Journal Information:
- Risk Analysis; (United States), Journal Name: Risk Analysis; (United States) Vol. 14:6; ISSN 0272-4332; ISSN RIANDF
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
CHILDREN
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LEAD
METALS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SOILS