Human-biomonitoring and individual soil measurements for children and mothers in an area with recently detected mercury-contaminations and public health concerns: a cross-sectional study.

In this study, we assessed intracorporal mercury concentrations in subjects living on partially mercury-contaminated soils in a defined area in Switzerland. We assessed 64 mothers and 107 children who resided in a defined area for at least 3 months. Mercury in biological samples (urine and hair) was measured, a detailed questionnaire was administered for each individual, and individual mercury soil values were obtained. Human biomonitoring results were compared with health-related and reference values. Mothers and children in our study had geometric means (GMs) of 0.22 µg Hg/g creatinine in urine (95th percentile (P95) = 0.85 µg Hg/g) and 0.16 µg Hg/g (P95 = 0.56 µg Hg/g), respectively. In hair, mothers and children had GMs of 0.21 µg Hg/g (P95 = 0.94 µg/g) and 0.18 µg/g (P95 = 0.60 µg/g), respectively. We found no evidence for an association between mercury values in soil and those in human specimens nor for a health threat in residential mothers and children.

Integrating multivariate and geostatistical analyses for assessing the socio-environmental vulnerability of children in the vicinity of a contaminated site.

Vulnerability assessments are commonly based on complex indices that may be inappropriate for characterizing risks in small groups of people exposed to environmental hazards. The aim was to present a multivariate and geostatistical approach to explore human health risks at the individual, household and community level. First, biological and socioeconomic characteristics from 179 children were used in a cluster analysis to find groups and identify vulnerability profiles. Then, both the exposure of children to arsenic and lead in soils and their accessibility to community resources were assessed using a geospatial analysis. The results identified three vulnerability profiles among children that were not in agreement with the environmental exposure and deficit of community resources. The proposed approach helps optimize strategies to manage both environmental and social risks based on the vulnerability of the exposed population.

Exposure factors of cadmium for residents in an abandoned metal mine area in Korea.

This study evaluated blood and urine cadmium (Cd) levels and human exposure factors for residents in an abandoned metal mine in Korea. We collected blood, urine, soil, water, and rice grain samples to analyze Cd concentrations and analyzed heavy metal concentration patterns in soil. We estimated the major exposure factor of Cd through non-carcinogenic risk assessment depending on exposure routes. The blood Cd concentration in the case group was 5.33 µg/L (geometric mean), significantly higher than that in the control group (1.63 µg/L, geometric mean). Urine Cd concentrations were also similar. The Cd concentrations in paddy soil (1.29 mg/kg) and rice grains (0.14 mg/kg) in the study area were higher than those in the control area (0.91 and 0.07 mg/kg, respectively). The analysis of heavy metal concentration in soil showed that the Cd levels in agricultural soil in the case group were attributable to the mine. The hazard quotient (HQ) of Cd by rice ingestion in the case group (1.25) was 2 times higher than that in the control group (0.6). We found that the HQ of rice ingestion contributed to more than 97 % of the total HQ, indicating that rice grains were the major exposure source. However, it is likely that the continuous intake of Cd-exposed crops led to chronic exposure among the residents in mine area.

Human Exposure to Wastewater-Derived Pharmaceuticals in Fresh Produce: A Randomized Controlled Trial Focusing on Carbamazepine.

Fresh water scarcity has led to increased use of reclaimed wastewater as an alternative and reliable source for crop irrigation. Beyond microbiological safety, concerns have been raised regarding contamination of reclaimed wastewater by xenobiotics including pharmaceuticals. This study focuses on carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug which is ubiquitously detected in reclaimed wastewater, highly persistent in soil, and taken up by crops. In a randomized controlled trial we demonstrate that healthy individuals consuming reclaimed wastewater-irrigated produce excreted carbamazepine and its metabolites in their urine, while subjects consuming fresh water-irrigated produce excreted undetectable or significantly lower levels of carbamazepine. We also report that the carbamazepine metabolite pattern at this low exposure level differed from that observed at therapeutic doses. This "proof of concept" study demonstrates that human exposure to xenobiotics occurs through ingestion of reclaimed wastewater-irrigated produce, providing real world data which could guide risk assessments and policy designed to ensure the safe use of wastewater for crop irrigation.

Multimedia exposures to arsenic and lead for children near an inactive mine tailings and smelter site.

Children living near contaminated mining waste areas may have high exposures to metals from the environment. This study investigates whether exposure to arsenic and lead is higher in children in a community near a legacy mine and smelter site in Arizona compared to children in other parts of the United States and the relationship of that exposure to the site. Arsenic and lead were measured in residential soil, house dust, tap water, urine, and toenail samples from 70 children in 34 households up to 7 miles from the site. Soil and house dust were sieved, digested, and analyzed via ICP-MS. Tap water and urine were analyzed without digestion, while toenails were washed, digested and analyzed. Blood lead was analyzed by an independent, certified laboratory. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between each environmental media and urine and toenails for arsenic and lead. Geometric mean arsenic (standard deviation) concentrations for each matrix were: 22.1 (2.59) ppm and 12.4 (2.27)ppm for soil and house dust (<63µm), 5.71 (6.55)ppb for tap water, 14.0 (2.01)µg/L for specific gravity-corrected total urinary arsenic, 0.543 (3.22)ppm for toenails. Soil and vacuumed dust lead concentrations were 16.9 (2.03)ppm and 21.6 (1.90) ppm. The majority of blood lead levels were below the limit of quantification. Arsenic and lead concentrations in soil and house dust decreased with distance from the site. Concentrations in soil, house dust, tap water, along with floor dust loading were significantly associated with toenail and urinary arsenic but not lead. Mixed models showed that soil and tap water best predicted urinary arsenic. In our study, despite being present in mine tailings at similar levels, internal lead exposure was not high, but arsenic exposure was of concern, particularly from soil and tap water. Naturally occurring sources may be an additional important contributor to exposures in certain legacy mining areas.

Association of beer consumption with arsenic concentration in urine: a result from a cross-sectional study of the general Japanese population.

OBJECTIVES: The first aim of this study was to evaluate the association between time spent living near a contaminated area and concentration of arsenic (As) compounds in the urine among study subjects. The second aim is to assess the association between consumption of various foods or beverages and As concentration in urine among them. METHODS: Urine sampling was performed on 177 persons who voluntarily participated in the survey in May 2014. The median value of the sum of inorganic As (iAs) and total As (tAs) compounds was used for us to divide into two groups, such as the high and low iAs and high and low tAs groups. We analyzed data separately in two-age strata of age group A (the subjects <18 years old), and age group B (the subjects ≥18 years old). A multivariate analysis was performed with the logistic regression model to adjust for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: No link between time spent living near a contaminated area and urinary As concentration was observed in our study. For age group B, frequently drinking beer was significantly associated with risk of being in the high tAs group (p = 0.008). Compared to not drinking beer, odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of drinking beer <1 or 2 times per week, and drinking beer ≥3 or 4 times per week were 3.09 (1.32-7.24) and 3.00 (1.02-8.80), respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking index. CONCLUSION: Frequent consumption of beer may be associated with high tAs in age group B.

Assessment of mercury exposure among small-scale gold miners using mercury stable isotopes.

Total mercury (Hg) concentrations in hair and urine are often used as biomarkers of exposure to fish-derived methylmercury (MeHg) and gaseous elemental Hg, respectively. We used Hg stable isotopes to assess the validity of these biomarkers among small-scale gold mining populations in Ghana and Indonesia. Urine from Ghanaian miners displayed similar Δ(199)Hg values to Hg derived from ore deposits (mean urine Δ(199)Hg=0.01‰, n=6). This suggests that urine total Hg concentrations accurately reflect exposure to inorganic Hg among this population. Hair samples from Ghanaian miners displayed low positive Δ(199)Hg values (0.23-0.55‰, n=6) and low percentages of total Hg as MeHg (7.6-29%, n=7). These data suggest that the majority of the Hg in these miners' hair samples is exogenously adsorbed inorganic Hg and not fish-derived MeHg. Hair samples from Indonesian gold miners who eat fish daily displayed a wider range of positive Δ(199)Hg values (0.21-1.32‰, n=5) and percentages of total Hg as MeHg (32-72%, n=4). This suggests that total Hg in the hair samples from Indonesian gold miners is likely a mixture of ingested fish MeHg and exogenously adsorbed inorganic Hg. Based on data from both populations, we suggest that total Hg concentrations in hair samples from small-scale gold miners likely overestimate exposure to MeHg from fish consumption.

Potential health risk in areas with high naturally-occurring cadmium background in southwestern China.

In various parts of the world, high cadmium (Cd) concentrations in environment are not related to anthropogenic contamination but have natural origins. Less is known about health risks that arise under these conditions. This study aimed to discuss the pollution of Cd with natural sources, and to investigate the concentration of Cd in food crops and the urine of inhabitants in an area of southwestern China. The results showed that the arable soils are moderately contaminated by Cd (I(geo)=1.51) relative to the local background, with a high ecological risk (Er=218). The chemical fractions of Cd in soils with natural sources are probably controlled by parent materials and mostly in residual phase. The average Cd concentrations were 0.68 mg kg(-1) (fresh weight) in local vegetables, 0.04 mg kg(-1) in rice, and 0.14 µg L(-1) in water. Leafy vegetable tends to accumulate more Cd than the other crops. The calculated Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) had a much higher value (4.33) for Cd, suggesting that Cd represents a significant potential risk to the local population. The urinary Cd concentrations (mean at 3.92 µg L(-1) for male and 4.85 µg L(-1) for female) of inhabitants in the study area were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those from the control area (mean at 0.8 µg L(-1) for male and 0.42 µg L(-1) for female). Male and female test subjects had similar urinary Cd levels (p>0.05), but age seemed to lead to an increase in Cd in the urine. These findings show that naturally-occurring Cd in local soils is taken up appreciably by local food crops, and that dietary exposure of Cd through vegetable ingestion is a major exposure pathway for local populations, and a potential risk to public health in the study area.

Human exposure and risk assessment of cadmium for residents of abandoned metal mine areas in Korea.

The objective of this study is to find the Cd levels in agricultural crops compared to soil, to evaluate the relationship between daily intake dose through the multimedia/multi-pathway of human exposure and biomarker levels of the residents in mine vicinity area. We collected and cited the data of four out of ten health impact assessments for the residents of abandoned mine areas undertaken by the Korea Ministry of Environment in 2008. The Cd levels in soil were significantly decreased by the separation distance from the mines. The Cd levels in blood were significantly different between residents in mine areas and in comparative areas, but urinary Cd levels did not differ. The Cd levels in blood were related to the age; the separation distance from mine to residence; the daily intake dose via ingestion of drinking water, crops, and surface soil; and inhalation of ambient air of Cd, but urinary Cd levels were not relevant with various sociodemographic characteristics and exposure factors. The average hazard quotient (HQ) value of Cd in the mining site was below 1.0, but the maximum HQ was closed to 1.0. The results indicated that the ingestion of Cd-contaminated soil and agricultural crops by local inhabitants could pose potential adverse health effects to long-term residents consuming rice grown near to the mining areas.

[Investigation of urinary cadmium reference of general population in two rural high background areas of soil cadmium and non-cadmium-polluted in China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the reference of urinary. cadmium of the general population in rural high background areas of soil cadmium and non-cadmium contaminated in China. METHODS: In rural high background areas of soil cadmium and non-cadmium contaminated, randomly selected non-occupational-cadmium exposed population 1134 people (male 519, female 615) with each gender and age groups, questionnaire surveyed and collected random urine. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine (Cr) concentration were tested, excluding urinary Cr <0.3 g/L and >3 g/L. Analyze the impact factors of urinary cadmium and calculated 95% quantile (P,95 ) of urinary cadmium after correction by urinary Cr. RESULTS: Female median urinary cadmium was significantly higher than men, male smokers median urinary cadmium was significantly higher than male non-smokers (P <0. 05) , but differ slightly in P95. Both men and women, the median and P95 of urinary cadmium were low when 15 -30 year-old, and higher when <15 or >30 year-old. According to gender, and 15 -30, <15 and >30 years old, analysis the upper limit of cadmium in urine. The 95% upper limit of urinary cadmium of <15 and >30 year-old female (12.24 microg/gCr) was significantly higher than other populations ( <9.0 microg/gCr). Addition, the 95% upper limit of uriniary cadmium of the survey population exceeded the upper limit (5 microg/gCr) of the occupational cadmium poisoning diagnostic criteria in China (GBZ 17-2002). CONCLUSION: In the two rural high background areas of soil cadmium and non-cadmium polluted , urinary cadmium reference of non-cadmium-occupational-exposed male is <9.0 microg/gCr, and female <13.0 microg/gCr.

Measurement of arsenic relative bioavailability in swine.

This study describes a method for measuring the relative oral bioavailability (RBA) of arsenic (As) in soil and other soil-like media using young swine as the animal model. Groups of animals are exposed to site soil or sodium arsenate orally for 12 d. Forty-eight-hour urine samples were collected from each animal on d 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11 and were analyzed for total As. The urinary excretion fraction (UEF) for each group was estimated by plotting the mass of As excreted in urine by each animal as a function of the dose administered, and then fitting a linear model to the data using simultaneous weighted linear regression. The RBA of a test material is calculated as the ratio of the UEF value for the test material divided by the UEF of the reference material. Uncertainty around the RBA estimate is calculated using Fieller's theorem. Application of this method to a series of test soils indicates that RBA values for As can range from 18 to 52%. This wide variability supports the conclusion that there may be important differences in RBA between sites, and that use of a site-specific RBA value is likely to increase the accuracy of risk estimates for exposure to As in soil.

Interaction effects of lead on bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of arsenic in the rat.

Arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) are common contaminants found in mine waste materials. For an evidence-based risk assessment, it is important to better understand the potential interaction of mixed contaminants; and this interaction study was investigated in an in vivo rat model. Following co-administration of a fixed dose of As(V) as in sodium arsenate and different doses of Pb as lead acetate to Sprague-Dawley rats, blood arsenic concentration and bioavailability decreased. A decrease in As blood concentration when lead was co-administered was observed with increasing lead doses. Pharmacokinetic parameters for As in the blood showed faster absorption and elimination of this metalloid in the presence of Pb. The elimination half-life of As decreased from 67 days in As solo group to 27-30 with doses of Pb. Bioavailability of As was also decreased by 30-43 % in the presence of Pb. Decreased urinary excretion of Pb and tissue accumulation were also observed. It indicates lower absorption of As when co-administered with Pb. A probable explanation for these findings is that As co-administration with Pb could have resulted in the formation of less soluble lead arsenate. However, such an interaction between As and Pb could only explain about one-third of the variation when real mine waste materials containing both of these elements were administered to rats. This suggests that other effects from physical and chemical parameters could contribute to the bioavailability of arsenic in complex real environmental samples.

An investigation of the effect of gastrointestinal microbial activity on oral arsenic bioavailability.

In vitro gastrointestinal (GI) microbial activity in the colon compartment facilitates the arsenic release from soils into simulated GI fluids. Consequentially, it is possible that in vitro models that neglect to include microbial activity underestimate arsenic bioaccessibility when calculating oral exposure. However, the toxicological relevance of increased arsenic release due to microbial activity is contingent upon the subsequent absorption of arsenic solubilized in the GI lumen. The objectives of this research are to: (1) assess whether microbes in the in vitro small intestine affect arsenic solubilization from soils, (2) determine whether differences in the GI microbial community result in differences in the oral bioavailability of soil-borne arsenic. In vitro GI microbial activity in the distal small intestine increased arsenic release from soils; however, these effects were unlikely to be relevant since they were transient and demonstrated small effect sizes. In vivo arsenic absorption for juvenile swine was unaffected by antibiotic treatment. Therefore, it appears that microbial effects on arsenic release do not result in increased arsenic bioavailability. However, it remains to be seen whether the results for the limited set of soils described herein can be extrapolated to arsenic contaminated sites in general.

Determination of terbuthylazine and desethylterbuthylazine in human urine and hair samples by eletrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Terbuthylazine (TBA) is a widely applied herbicide and an environmental contaminant. Following its use, humans, such as agricultural workers and rural residents, may be exposed. An isotope-dilution liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of TBA, and its metabolite desethylterbuthylazine (DET) in human urine and hair was developed and validated. Under the optimised conditions, analytes were extracted from urine using a solid phase cartridge or from hair by sonication in methanol. Analytes were separated using a C18 reversed-phase chromatographic column and quantified, after positive ionization using a heated electrospray source, by a triple quadrupole mass detector in the selected reaction monitoring mode. Validation showed linear dynamic ranges up to 100 µg/L or 5.00 ng/mg hair, inter- and intra-run precisions <7%, and accuracies within 12% of spiked concentrations. Limits of quantification were 0.25 µg/L in urine and 0.01 ng/mg hair for both TBA and DET. Matrix effect evaluation showed that the isotope dilution approach allowed for the control of bias sources. TBA and DET were determined in specimens of agriculture workers exposed to TBA using the validated method. Hair samples contained TBA levels in the low nanogram per milligram range, and urine samples contained DET levels in the low microgram per liter range. Conversely, TBA levels in urine samples and DET levels in hair samples were always below the limit of quantification.

Assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury levels in soil and biological samples from San Felipe, Nuevo Mercurio, Zacatecas, Mexico.

The aim of this work was to evaluate contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury in soil, and to assess exposure level to both contaminants in children living in San Felipe, Nuevo Mercurio, Zacatecas, Mexico. We found soil levels of total polychlorinated biphenyls ranging from non detectable (nd) to 190 µg/kg. Mercury soil levels ranged from 8.9 to 10215.0 mg/kg. Exposure levels of total polychlorinated biphenyls assessed in blood and urinary mercury in children living in the studied community were 1,600 ± 8,800 ng/g lipid and 4.2 ± 7.1 µg/g creatinine, respectively.

Characterization and quantification of chlordecone elimination in ewes.

To reduce the exposure of the French West Indies population to the organochlorine insecticide chlordecone (Kepone; CLD), the contamination of currently consumed foodstuffs must be reduced. Depuration of contaminated animals before slaughter could be a strategy to obtain safe animal products. The aim of this study was to characterize and quantify CLD elimination in contaminated ewes during depuration process. Experiments A and B consisted in a single intravenous (i.v.) administration of CLD (n = 5) and CLDOH (chlordecol; n = 3) followed by a 84-d and 3-d depuration period respectively with collection of blood, faeces and urine samples. After CLD administration, CLD and conjugated-CLDOH (CLDOH-C) were quantified in serum and urine and CLD and CLDOH were quantified in faeces. Based on calculations of faecal, urinary and body clearances of CLD and CLDOH-C, faeces appeared as the major route of CLD excretion with 86 % of the CLD administered dose eliminated in faeces, either as CLD (51 %) or as CLDOH (35 %).

Seventeen-year observation on urinary cadmium and beta2-microglobulin in inhabitants after cessation of cadmium-exposure in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the change and relationship of urinary cadmium (Cd) and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG) concentrations of inhabitants in Cd-polluted areas after soil restoration. The urinary Cd and beta(2)-MG concentrations of 25 males and 28 females did not show a significant change, 22 years after the Cd-polluted soil was restored. Once exposed to Cd, it was found to remain in the body, 22 years after the Cd -polluted soil was restored. However, this did not influence renal tubular dysfunction in most of the younger generation compared with elders heavily exposed to Cd.

Intra- and Interlaboratory Evaluation of an Assay of Soil Arsenic Relative Bioavailability in Mice.

Hand-to-mouth activity in children can be an important route for ingestion of soil and dust contaminated with inorganic arsenic. Estimating the relative bioavailability of arsenic present in these media is a critical element in assessing the risks associated with aggregate exposure to this toxic metalloid during their early life. Here, we evaluated the performance of a mouse assay for arsenic bioavailability in two laboratories using a suite of 10 soils. This approach allowed us to examine both intralaboratory and interlaboratory variations in assay performance. Use of a single vendor for preparation of all amended test diets and of a single laboratory for arsenic analysis of samples generated in the participating laboratories minimized contributions of these potential sources of variability in assay performance. Intralaboratory assay data showed that food and water intake and cumulative urine and feces production remained stable over several years. The stability of these measurements accounted for the reproducibility of estimates of arsenic bioavailability obtained from repeated intralaboratory assays using sodium arsenate or soils as the test material. Interlaboratory comparisons found that estimates of variables used to evaluate assay performance (recovery and urinary excretion factor) were similar in the two laboratories. For all soils, estimates of arsenic relative bioavailability obtained in the two laboratories were highly correlated (r2 = 0.94 and slope = 0.9) in a linear regression model. Overall, these findings show that this mouse assay for arsenic bioavailability provides reproducible estimates using a variety of test soils. This robust model may be adaptable for use in other laboratory settings.

Serial changes in urinary cadmium concentrations and degree of renal tubular injury after soil replacement in cadmium-polluted rice paddies.

Targeting persons requiring observation in the Cd-polluted Kakehashi River basin a serial observation study was conducted. Namely we followed the serial changes in 50 subjects who ingested household rice for 10 years after replacement of Cd-polluted soil in rice paddies. The serial changes in urinary substance levels in individuals were determined adjusting for the potential effect of age using a general linear mixed model. Cd excretions decreased with increasing number of years elapsed, with the partial regression coefficients of the number of years elapsed statistically significant in the women. The ratio of the Cd excretion theoretical values at the completion of soil replacement and 10 years later was 0.60 and the reduction rate was calculated as 5.0% per year in women. However, it was surmised that in practice a decrease to the level of inhabitants of non-polluted districts would not be achievable. The indices of renal tubular injury (beta(2)-microglobulin, retinol binding protein (RBP), total protein, amino-N and glucose) with the exception of amino-N in men showed increased excretion in both sexes with increasing number of years elapsed with statistically significant differences in RBP and total protein in both sexes and glucose in men. In this study using a general linear mixed model, which is an appropriate statistical method to perform a follow-up study, Cd concentrations in rice and urine were found to decrease after Cd exposure was reduced, but the degree of renal tubular injury was not found to improve, leading to the conclusion that the renal tubular injury induced by environmental Cd exposure is irreversible.

Dermal absorption of arsenic from soils as measured in the rhesus monkey.

Regulatory agencies have relied on dermal absorption data for soluble forms of arsenic as the technical basis for specific absorption values that are used to calculate exposure to arsenic in weathered soil. These evaluations indicate that percutaneous absorption of arsenic from soil ranges from 3.2 to 4.5% of the dermally applied dose, based on studies of arsenic freshly mixed with soil. When this value is incorporated into risk assessments and combined with other assumptions about dermal exposures to soil, the conclusion is often that dermal exposure to arsenic from soil may contribute significantly to overall exposure to arsenic in soil. Prior characterization research has indicated that the solubility of arsenic in soil varies, depending on the provenance of the soil, the source of the arsenic, and the chemical interaction of arsenic with other minerals present within the soil matrix. Weathering produces forms of arsenic that are more tightly bound within the soil and less available for absorption. Our research expands on prior in vivo studies to provide insights into the potential for dermal absorption of arsenic from the more environmentally relevant substrate of soil. Specifically, two soils with very high concentrations of arsenic were evaluated under two levels of skin hydration. One soil, containing 1400 mg/kg arsenic, was collected adjacent to a pesticide production facility in New York. The other soil, containing 1230 mg/kg arsenic, was collected from a residential area with a history of application of arsenical pesticides. Although the results of this research are constrained by the small study size dictated by the selection of an animal research model using monkeys, the statistical power was optimized by using a "crossover" study design, wherein each animal could serve as its own comparison control. No other models (animal or in vitro) were deemed adequate for studying the dermal absorption of soil arsenic. Our results show dermal absorption of soluble arsenic in solution to be 4.8 +/- 5.5%, which is similar to results reported earlier for arsenic in solution (and used by regulatory agencies in recommendations regarding dermal absorption of arsenic). Conversely, absorption following application of arsenic in the soil matrices resulted in mean estimated arsenic absorption of 0.5% or less for all soils, and all individual estimates were less than 1%. More specifically, following application of arsenic-bearing soils to the abdomens of monkeys, urinary arsenic excretion could not be readily distinguished from background. This was true across all five soil-dosing trials, including application of the two dry soils and three trials with wet soil. These findings are consistent with our understanding of the environmental chemistry of arsenic, wherein arsenic can be present in soils in complexed mineral forms. This research addresses an important component involved in estimating the true contribution of percutaneous exposures to arsenic in soil relative to exposures via ingestion. Our findings suggest that dermal absorption of arsenic from soil is truly negligible, and that EPA's current default assumption of 3% dermal absorption of arsenic from soils results in significant overestimates of exposure.