title: Metal sources and exposures in the homes of young children living near a mining-impacted Superfund site.
abstract: Children living near hazardous waste sites may be exposed to environmental contaminants, yet few studies have conducted multi-media exposure assessments, including residential environments where children spend most of their time. We sampled yard soil, house dust, and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 in 59 homes of young children near an abandoned mining area and analyzed samples for lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn). In over half of the homes, dust concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, and As were higher than those in soil. Proximity to mine waste (chat) piles and the presence of chat in the driveway significantly predicted dust metals levels. Homes with both chat sources had Pb, Zn, Cd, and As dust levels two to three times higher than homes with no known chat sources after controlling for other sources. In contrast, Mn concentrations in dust were consistently lower than in soil and were not associated with chat sources. Mn dust concentrations were predicted by soil concentrations and occupant density. These findings suggest that nearby outdoor sources of metal contaminants from mine waste may migrate indoors. Populations farther away from the mining site may also be exposed if secondary uses of chat are in close proximity to the home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. zotaar@obgyn.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Ami R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zota
authors.forename: Laurel A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schaider
authors.forename: Adrienne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shine
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spengler
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007223:Infant; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D009825:Oklahoma; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012989:Soil Pollutants