Risk assessment through ieubk model in an inhabited area contaminated with lead

Over centuries the mining industry has been accumulating a great quantity of wastes. The main potentially toxic elements present in the mining wastes are metals and metalloids. Due to its effects on human health, lead is one of the metals in wastes of more concern. Children are the most vulnerable to inorganic‐Pb exposure, due to their behavior and physiology. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determinate lead concentration and dispersion in an inhabited area, also to estimate the risk for children population in the site through the model IEUBK (Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic model). The inorganic lead in dust present in the inhabited area was analytically determined. The risk assessment of lead exposure for children, predicted that is a probability from 31.68 to 90.61% of have lead in blood above of 10 μg dL−1. Remediation actions are recommended in order to mitigate the population exposure. A risk assessment is an important research tool to evaluate the level of population exposure to contaminant sources that can be dangerous for its health and quality of life. This research is significant due to the fact that tailing damps are multicontaminated wastes; moreover Pb is a pollutant that can generate harsh effects in people, especially in children. The lack of urban planning and awareness encouraged that settlements with new families were developed next to tailing damps without concern about the inhabitant's exposure to Pb and other metals. This manuscript proposes the use of models like the IEUBK, as a tool for risk assessment and studies related with urban planning in mining sites. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 391–398, 2018