Exposure Factors vs. Bioaccessibility in the Soil-and-Dust Ingestion Pathway: A Comparative Assessment of Uncertainties Using MC2D Simulations in an Arsenic Exposure Scenario

• DOI: 10.1007/s12403-022-00533-w
• Publication Date: 2023-01-31T08:02:52Z
• Authors: F. Barrio-Parra; H. Serrano García; M. Izquierdo-Díaz; E. De Miguel
• Keywords: Probabilistic risk assessment; Exposure Assessment

Abstract Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) is a widely applied method to make decisions about the environmental status of sites affected by toxic substances. Its conclusions are variability and uncertainty input variables in HHRA model. The aim this work apply an algorithm based on 2D Monte Carlo simulations integrate exposure factors, concentration, bioaccessibility, reported various information sources, assess compare their influence risk outcome. specific case study children arsenic from accidental soil ingestion residential setting city Madrid (Spain) combining 12 studies. consideration parameters Baseline (BRA, deterministic) resulted greater reduction numerical value estimations than that produced considering only bioaccessibility factor. results Probabilistic (PRA) showed distribution was more sensitive variabilities intake rate total concentration other such as bioaccessibility. In study, introduced using "default" reasonable maximum factors model term produce overestimates at least range those omitting term. Thus, inclusion is, alone, insufficient improve since selection can significantly affect estimates for pathway. or contaminants, however, role uncertainties associated with bioaccesible fraction could be pronounced. may useful updating reduce HHRAs.