Measurement and modelling human dermal bioavailability of potentially harmful organic soil contaminants
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography
Abstract
There is around 66,000 hectares of Brownfield land in the UK, with the UK government wishing for 60% of new builds to be on Brownfield sites. Brownfield land can be contaminated by previous activities, such as former gasworks sites, where persistent organic pollutants (POP) such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can be created through incomplete combustion of organic materials. Many PAHs are mutagenic and carcinogenic, and consequently a risk to human health. While there have been studies on dermal bioavailability of pure compounds, the effect of soil physico-chemical properties on dermal absorption of contaminants is poorly understood resulting in overly conservative risk assessments. As a result, the aims of this project are:
- To optimise an in vitro method to quantify the human dermal bioavailability of PAHs in soil
- To validate the results using publicly available in vivo study data
- To use measured physico-chemical soil properties to develop, test and evaluate numerical models to predict dermal bioavailability, explaining which factors might be responsible for the release of contaminants from soil into and through human skin.
- To optimise an in vitro method to quantify the human dermal bioavailability of PAHs in soil
- To validate the results using publicly available in vivo study data
- To use measured physico-chemical soil properties to develop, test and evaluate numerical models to predict dermal bioavailability, explaining which factors might be responsible for the release of contaminants from soil into and through human skin.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- Land Quality Management Ltd (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Collaboration)
- WSP Group plc (Collaboration)
- National Grid UK (Collaboration)
- British Geological Survey (Student Project Partner)
- National Grid (United Kingdom) (Student Project Partner)
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/R010218/1 | 01/10/2017 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1982062 | Studentship | NE/R010218/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 |
| Description | The key findings so far (I am yet to complete the main experiment which will hopefully deliver the main objectives of the project), is that I have been able to analyse the dermal absorption of PAH through the Strat-M artificial human skin membrane using GC-MS, which has not been achieved previously. This will enable me to analyse the dermal absorption of PAH from real contaminated soils, which has also not been achieved before. Previous research has involved solvent spiking radio-labelled PAH onto a soil, and measuring the dermal absorption using scintillation counting, with the main drawback of this is that the aging process which binds PAH in soil will not have occurred to the same extent as a natural soil meaning that dermal bioavailability is subsequently overestimated. This work will hopefully produce a more representative soil PAH dermal bioavailability value to better inform contaminated land professionals, policy makers, and brownfield redevelopment. |
| Exploitation Route | This work will hopefully produce a more representative soil PAH dermal bioavailability value to better inform contaminated land professionals, policy makers, and brownfield redevelopment. The method developed could be used to assess soil samples from contaminated sites. The method could also potentially be used by the pharmaceutical industry to assess drug delivery through the skin. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Construction,Environment,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Application for Training Funds |
| Amount | £5,964 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Soils Training and Research Studentships |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Start | 02/2020 |
| Title | Measurement of the dermal bioavailability of PAH from soils. |
| Description | I have been developing a method for the main part of my PhD, which will enable the measurement of the dermal absorption of PAH from soils. A common apparatus used in in vitro dermal diffusion studies is diffusion cells. Ideally, for the purpose of deriving a dermal absorption value to be used in risk assessment, the PAH concentrations in all three of these compartments need to be measured to achieve a complete mass balance. So far I have been able to measure PAH in all compartments using a solvent spike to deliver PAH to the membrane, and I am currently working on the experiment that tests the optimised method on soils. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This will be the first study to create a method that has the ability to measure the dermal absorption of PAH in all compartments using GC-MS, and also to use real contaminated soils to do so. This means that the dermal absorption data generated using this method is likely to be more representative of real world exposure scenarios and therefore give a more accurate representation of the potential exposure to occupants of contaminated sites. This could in turn impact the way in which contaminated land assessment is carried out in future. |
| Description | British Geological Survey |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have been carrying out my laboratory work at the British Geological Survey (BGS) in the Organic Geochemistry department. I am hosted by the department at the BGS, and contribute to the running of the labs. I also aid in the training of first year PhD students in the lab and other areas. I have been responsible for several placement/work experience students during my time at the BGS. I also offer my knowledge of PAH behaviour in soils, PAH toxicity, bioavailability and human health risk assessment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The British Geological Survey have hosted me throughout my time as a PhD student, allowing me access to the labs to use equipment for my experiments. I have also received training by the BGS in topics such as: coding in R, gas safety training, data handling, to name a few. My PhD supervisors at BGS meet with me on a regular basis, and offer guidance and support with my project if needed, and also constructive feedback on my project as a whole. |
| Impact | REMEDIATE conference 2018 - oral and poster presentation SOBRA conference 2018 - poster presentation STARS conference 2019 - poster/PICO presentation |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | LQM |
| Organisation | Land Quality Management Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Laboratory work and data analysis and interpretation. Knowledge of: PAH behaviour/concentrations in soil, PAH toxicity, dermal bioavailability, bioavailability/bioaccessibility. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in human health risk assessment associated with contaminated sites, environmental law and common practice, bioavailability/bioaccessibility. Training on how to use the CLEA (contaminated land exposure assessment) model. |
| Impact | REMEDIATE conference 2018 - Oral and poster presentation SOBRA conference 2018 - poster presentation. STARS conference 2019 - poster/PICO presentation |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | National Grid Property Holdings |
| Organisation | National Grid UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Laboratory work, Experimental planning/execution, data analysis and interpretation, conference presentations |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to former gas work sites for soil sampling. Expertise on former gas work sites. |
| Impact | Oral and poster presentation - REMEDIATE conference 2018 poster presentation - SOBRA conference 2018 poster/PICO presentation - STARS conference 2019 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | WSP (CASE partner) |
| Organisation | WSP Group plc |
| Department | WSP UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The laboratory work, experimental design, project management, data analysis, interpretation, conference presentations etc. were carried out by myself. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Their expertise in the contaminated land sector, especially on former gas work sites. The soils used in the experiments of the project are from former gas work sites. Also attends quarterly supervision meetings to offer guidance on how the project could aid the contaminated land sector. WSP is also a CASE partner of my studentship, and all being well I shall spend 3 months on a placement with them, to see the impacts of my research on contaminated land/brownfield regeneration first hand. |
| Impact | Oral and poster presentation at REMEDIATE conference 2018 Poster presentation at SOBRA conference 2018 Poster/PICO presentation at STARS conference 2019 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | REMEDIATE conference 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a oral and poster presentation of my PhD project at REMEDIATE 2018. The attendees included of academics and practitioners, which proved highly beneficial for my project as I was able to discuss with experienced consultants how my work may influence contaminated land site investigation and risk assessment upon its completion as well as getting a different perspective on my project from researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/stars/2018/remediate-conference-2018/ |
| Description | SOBRA conference 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I attended the SOBRA conference in 2018, giving a poster presentation. I networked with several contaminated land consultants who gave me their contact details and wish to be kept up to date with the progress of my PhD project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | STARS Conference 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I attended the STARS conference in January 2019, where I had the opportunity to present a poster as well as chair a PICO presentation session. The main outcome of this event was discussion of and interest in my research, as well as knowledge exchange with other soil scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.starsoil.org.uk/home/conference-jan-2019/# |