EVALUATION OF SOIL AND DUST AS A POTENTIAL EXPOSURE MEDIUM FOR ARSENIC AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN APPALACHIAN COAL MINING COMMUNITIES

Current hypotheses linking coal mining activities in the Central Appalachian Basin to environmental contamination, community exposure, and regional health effects should be tested with quantitative exposure studies. Relevant exposure pathways include ingestion of soil and dust and inhalation of dust. A pilot study comparing soil and dust samples collected near the homes of residents in an Appalachian coal mining area from an on-going study focused on lung cancer with soil and dust samples from a non-coal mining town was conducted. Environmental samples were collected based on results from a previous pilot study where persons with an incident diagnosis of lung cancer and matched controls were studied. Composite soil samples were collected from doormats and rugs in the highest traffic exterior doorway entrance. Additional surface samples were collected from the top 1-3 cm of soil in proximity to the doorway. Total As, Se, Cd, Pb and other inorganic elements of concern were determined by standard methods. Advanced laboratory methods, that simulate human gastrointestinal biochemistry, were used to determine the amount of soil/dust contaminant that will dissolved (i.e. bioaccessible) and be available for absorption into systemic blood circulation (i.e., bioavailable). The potential for exposure to arsenic and other contaminants of concern in soil and dust will be presented.