Metal concentration and bioaccessibility in different particle sizes of dust and aerosols to refine metal exposure assessment

Abstract Refined exposure assessments were realized for children, 7–9 yrs, in the mining/smelting city of Oruro, Bolivia. Aerosols (PM >2.5 , PM 1-2.5 , PM 0.4-1 and PM 0.5 ) and dust (separated in different particle size fractions: 2000–200 μm, 200–50 μm, 50–20 μm, 20–2 μm and i.e . exposure pathways: metals inhaled and ingested) and simulated internal exposure ( i.e ., complex estimation using gastric and lung bioaccessibility, deposition and clearance of particles in lungs). Significant differences between external and simulated internal exposure were attributed to dissemblances in gastric and lung bioaccessibilities, as well as metal distribution within particle size range, revealing the importance of both parameters in exposure assessment.