Environmental versus dietary exposure to POPs and metals: A probabilistic assessment of human health risks

Abstract

The human health risks derived from the multipathway/multipollutant exposure to various chemicals were assessed in an area with significant petrochemical activity (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain). Environmental exposure to several Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PCNs, and PAHs) and metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Pb, and V) was determined and compared with the dietary intake of these pollutants. The mean environmental exposure to organic pollutants ranged from 6.36 × 10⁻⁶ ng WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ to 3.34 ng kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for PCDD/Fs and PAHs, respectively. In turn, the minimum and maximum values of environmental exposure to metals corresponded to Cd (9.35 × 10⁻⁸ mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and Mn (8.72 × 10⁻⁵ mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), respectively. Among the environmental exposure pathways, dermal absorption and soil ingestion were the most important pathways for POPs and metals, respectively. However, this exposure was notably lower than the dietary intake of these contaminants, with percentages of <2% for most of them. Considering cumulative effects, the current concentrations of micropollutants do not mean significant additional non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risks. Notwithstanding, in order to consider the synergistic/antagonistic effects according to the target organ or mode-of-action, the development of alternative methodologies of risk assessment are necessary for a more accurate evaluation.