Exposure to contaminated sediments during recreational activities at a public bathing place.
More and more time is spent on recreational activities, but few risk assessments focus specifically on these situations and exposure factor data are often scarce. To assess exposure to contaminants at a public bathing place in an urban environment, we have compiled literature data, conducted observation studies, and analyzed water and sediment samples. The levels of anthropogenic contaminants are high in urban environments and traffic frequently plays an important role. In this study, to characterize variability and uncertainty, the deterministic exposure calculations for metal pollutants were supplemented by a probability bounds analysis for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The results from these calculations show that oral intake is the major exposure route for metals, while skin absorption, with present assumptions, is more important for the PAH. The presently measured levels of contaminants, at this public bathing place, cannot be anticipated to cause any significant adverse influence on public health. This assessment methodology is easy to adapt and can be used routinely in other situations with more heavily contaminated surface sediments and lake water.
Filipsson
Monika
M
School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
Lindström
Marianne
M
Peltola
Pasi
P
Oberg
Tomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013550:Swimming; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical