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EXPOSED? Risks of living in a contaminated area

How large is the metal exposure from contaminated soils and how can we better assess the risks? With this research project, we want to increase knowledge about how much metals people ingest via contaminated soil and develop methods to better assess the risks to human health.

Metals occur naturally in the soil, but in many places in Sweden and the rest of the world are levels of toxic metals elevated, both due to emissions from point sources in limited areas and more diffuse dispersion over large areas. One example of this is the Falu copper mine in Falun.

Particularly problematic in this context are the metals arsenic, lead and cadmium, which we also ingest via, for example, various foods and which, even at low intakes, can have certain toxic effects. Estimates of the levels of these metals that can occur in soil without posing a health risk can therefore be very low (close to natural background levels). Low levels in soil do not cause acute poisoning, but could pose a health risk to the population if many people are exposed over a long period of time. It is therefore important to reduce exposure for all, especially for sensitive groups such as pregnant women and children.

To better assess health risks

The project aims to increase knowledge about how much metals people are exposed to via ingestion from contaminated soil and develop methods to better assess the risks to human health. The project is carried out in a Swedish context but in collaboration with experts from other European countries.

This research project combines a biomonitoring study of arsenic, lead and cadmium with the development of health risk assessment models for lead and arsenic in soil and a framework for assessment of oral bioavailability (how much of the Pb, As and Cd that we ingest via soil is available for uptake in the body) based on laboratory tests.

The project focuses on three issues:

  • How much do different exposure pathways - soil, dust, water and diet - contribute to the levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium in blood or urine? This is being investigated, among other things, by sampling blood and urine in a population living in a contaminated area (Falun) and residents in a reference area that does not have metal-contaminated soil due to historical mining.
  • Can we develop specific models for health risk assessment of lead and arsenic in contaminated areas? These models need to be adapted to Swedish conditions, for example in terms of exposure from other sources.
  • How much of the metal content in soil is bioavailable? Here we want to identify best practices for assessing oral bioavailability of metals in contaminated soils.

Through close collaboration with scientists from Belgium and France and workshops with authorities and experts from other European countries, the project aims to exchange experience and knowledge and, where possible, harmonize methods with other European countries.

Project name

EXPOSED?

Project members

SGI leads the project and partners are AMM (Occupational and Environmental Medicine) at the Academic Hospital, Uppsala University, ISSeP (The Scientific Institute of Public Service) in Wallonia, Belgium, and JUNIA, part of LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, in France.

Project period

2024-2027

Funding

The project is funded within the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's call for Giftfria Kretslopp (“Toxic-free cycles”).

Our research

Research

Research that brings about change and does good. That is what we strive for. In order to arrive here we need to meet the challenges in society and pursue research based on the needs of the users.