Bioaccessibility of metals in soils and dusts contaminated by marine antifouling paint particles.
Fragments of antifouling paint and environmental geosolids have been sampled from the island of Malta and analysed for total and bioaccessible metals. Total concentrations of Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn were two to three orders of magnitude higher in spent antifouling composites relative to respective values in background soils and road dusts. Paint fragments were visible in geosolids taken from the immediate vicinity of boat maintenance facilities and mass balance calculations, based on Ba as a paint tracer, suggested that the most contaminated soils, road dusts and boatyard dusts contained about 1%, 7% and 9%, respectively, of antifouling particles. Human bioaccessibilities of metals were evaluated in selected samples using a physiologically based extraction technique. Accessibilities of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the most contaminated solids were sufficient to be cause for concern for individuals working in the boat repair industry and to the wider, local community.
Turner
Andrew
A
School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. aturner@plymouth.ac.uk
Singh
Nimisha
N
Richards
Jonathan P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008319:Malta; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009790:Occupations; D010150:Paint; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D004202:Disinfectants; D004391:Dust; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants