Benzo-a-pyrene: environmental partitioning and human exposure

Abstract

A multimedia transport model was used to evaluate the environmental partitioning of benzo-a-pyrene (BaP). Measured and predicted environmental concentrations were used to estimate the accumulation of BaP in the food chain and the subsequent extent of human exposure from inhalation and ingestion. Results show that BaP partitions mainly into soil (82%) and sediment (17%) and that the food chain is the dominant pathway of human exposure, accounting for about 97% of the total daily intake of BaP. Inhalation and consumption of contaminated water are only minor pathways of human exposure. The long-term average daily intake of BaP by the general population of the U.S. is estimated to be 2.2 micrograms (micrograms) per day. Cigarette smoking and indoor activities do not substantially increase human exposure to BaP relative to exposures to background levels of BaP present in the environment. Since the increased lifetime risk associated with human exposure to background levels of BaP is 3.5 x 10(-4), we conclude that ingestion of food items contaminated with BaP may pose a serious health threat to the U.S. population.