Environmental health risk assessment of ambient lead levels in Lisbon, Portugal: A full chain study approach

The multi-causality interactions between environment and health are complex and call for an integrated multidisciplinary study approach. Emerging computational toxicology tools that link toxicology, chemistry, environmental sciences, biostatistics, and computer sciences are proving to be very useful for integrated full-chain human health risk assessments.

In this study we use a newly developed computational tool – the 2FUN player to conduct a full-chain assessment combining measured ambient air lead concentrations with multi-media modelling and PBPK simulations to estimate the health risks from ambient air levels of lead in air-borne particulates (PM10) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ambient air Pb concentrations were used together with local climate variables in the 2FUN atmospheric model to calculate the amount of Pb deposited (wet and dry) onto soil. The 2FUN environmental and PBPK models were then used to calculate the Pb concentration in various biota (leafy vegetables, root vegetables, grain, potatoes, and fruits) produced in the area as well as the amount of Pb a typical adult would inhale and ingest during this ten-year assessment period.

The PBPK model of the 2FUN player was used to calculate the Pb levels in the various body systems. Our results showed a low health risk from Pb exposures. It also identified that ingestion of leafy vegetables (i.e. lettuce, cabbage, and spinach) and fruits contribute the most to total Pb blood levels.

This full chain assessment approach of the 2FUN player is likely to be very useful for local health risk assessment studies (i.e. EIA and SEA studies).