The relationship between the inhalation bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements in road dust from a heavily polluted industrial area and the source of their pollution

One of the sources of chronic exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTE), especially in polluted environments, is the inhalation of resuspended road dust (RD). The aim of this study is to assess the inhalation bioaccessibility of PTE in RD from highly polluted environments from mining/smelting industries and traffic, and to identify any correlations between the bioaccessibility fraction of PTE and the physicochemical characteristics of the particles. RD from the studied area contains extremely high total concentrations of Cr, V, and Mn, which are likely due to pollution from the smelting industry. Additionally, elevated total concentrations of other elements associated with traffic emissions including Zn, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Sn were also measured. The bioaccessibility of PTE was assessed using two synthetic extraction solutions - Gamble's solution (GS) and Artificial Lysosomal Fluid (ALF). The majority of elements showed negligible bioaccessibility in GS. However, quite high inhalation bioaccessibility was observed for Zn, Pb, Sb, Cd, and Mn in the ALF solution, with a mean bioaccessible fraction of 49, 51.5, 41, 50, and 40% respectively. The highest bioavailable fraction was measured for Cd (97%) in a sample collected near a steel production facility and for Pb (95%) in a sample collected near the highway. These results indicate that increased mobility of the elements in inhaled particles occurs only in the case of phagocytosis. The lowest inhalation bioavailability was measured for Cr (mean is 3%). Differential individual particle analysis revealed that about 60% of phases, mostly major (Cr,Ti,V)-bearing metallic alloys, silicates, oxides and sulphides, are stable in ALF solution, while 40% of phases, mostly (Fe,Ca,Mn)-bearing oxides, silicates, sulphides, metals and metallic alloys originating from steel production, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon and vanadium production and from traffic emissions have been heavily corroded or completely dissolved. The study provides valuable information to further assess health hazards from various emission sources. [Display omitted] •The main sources of road dust pollution are the metal smelting industry and traffic.•The most bioaccessible metals are those most likely to be emitted by traffic.•Low inhalation bioaccessibility was measured for elements typical of the smelting industry.•The polymetallic oxides and silicates are the most bioaccessible mineral phases.