Factors controlling the bioaccessibility of arsenic(V) and lead(II) in soil

The relative oral bioaccessibility of labile Pb(II) and As(V) added to soils was investigated in a well-characterized soil using a physiologically based extraction test (PBET) to simulate metal solubility in a child's digestive system. The effect of soil and PBET (i.e., simulated stomach and small intestine) pH, soil metal concentration, soil to solution ratio, and soil-metal aging time were investigated. Arsenic bioaccessibility was relatively unaffected by a variation in simulated stomach and small intestine pH over the range 2 to 7 and soil pH over the range 4.5 to 9.4. In contrast, Pb(II) bioaccessibility was strongly dependent on both the simulated stomach, small intestine, and soil pH, showing enhanced sequestration and decreased bioaccessibility at higher pH values in all cases. Although the bioaccessibility of Pb(II) was constant over the concentration range of approximately 10 to 10,000 mg/kg, the As(V) bioaccessibility significantly increased over this concentration range. The bioaccessibility of both arsenic and lead increased as the soil-to-solution ratio decreased from 1:40 to 1:100. Additional lead sequestration was not observed during 6 months of soil aging, but As (V) bioaccessibility decreased significantly during this period.