Dermal absorption of high molecular weight parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from manufactured gas plant soils using in vitro assessment
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: An enhanced in vitro human dermal bioavailability method was developed to measure the release of 20 parent and 7 alkylated high molecular weight (HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soils collected from five former manufactured Gas Plants (MGP) in England. GC-MS/MS was used to quantify HMW PAHs in soil, Strat-M artificial membrane representing skin, and synthetic receptor solution (RS) representing systemic circulation at 1-h, 10-h, and 24-h timesteps. Fluoranthene and pyrene exhibited the highest fluxes from soils to membrane (ranging from 9.5 - 281 ng/cm2/h) and soil to RS (<LOQ to 16.9 ng/cm2/h). Chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and the alkylated C1-fluoranthene/pyrene homologue series demonstrated fluxes higher than other HMW PAHs. The dermal fluxes were generally lower than those reported in previous investigations and suggest that dermal absorption varies between both HMW parent and alkylated PAHs and individual PAHs. The utilisation of real-world contaminated soils allowed for a more realistic representation; this is significant because current risk assessment guidance uses artificially spiked soils. This research is important because it suggests that the different dermal fluxes are likely to impact on the mass of PAH absorbed from soil after dermal exposure and therefore the potential risk contaminated soil pose to human health. This study investigated the dermal bioavailability of 27 PAHs using in vitro human dermal bioavailability experiments and measured the fluxes of the 27 PAHs to determine differences between PAHs. The findings of this study can help with decision making in risk assessments (RAs) conducted by remediation companies, landowners, consultants, and regulators by estimating the PAHs of greatest concern to human health based on the MGP processes. Implications of more accurate RAs include safely remediating brownfield sites into beneficial use, therefore reducing the requirement for development on greenfield land.
Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials
Authors: Alison M. Williams-Clayson, Christopher H. Vane, Matthew D. Jones, Russell Thomas, Christopher Taylor, Darren J. Beriro
Institutions: British Geological Survey, University of Nottingham
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,340
OpenAlex ID: W4392056589