Assessment of Human Health Risks in Relation to Recreational Activities on Two Artificial Freshwater Lakes Along the River Meuse in the Netherlands. H. J. Albering, Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands, telephone (031) 43-3881088, fax (031) 43-3670924, e-mail H.Albering@GRAT.Unimaas.NL, J-P. Rila, and E. J. C. Moonen, Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; J. A. Hoogewerff, Geotechnical Institute, OeFPZ Arsenal, Vienna, Austria ; and J. C. S. Kleinjans, Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
The artificial freshwater lakes along the Dutch part of the river Meuse created by excavation of gravel and sand are frequently used for recreational activities. The environmental quality of the lakes is affected by the quality of the river Meuse. The emissions of pollutants into the river Meuse have decreased during the last 10 years, resulting in decreased concentrations of contaminants in surface water and suspended matter. However, contaminations in sediments are more persistent and the sediments of these two freshwater lakes appear highly contaminated with heavy metals and PAHs. We investigated the health risk of occurrence of highly contaminated sediments in relation to recreational activities on these freshwater lakes. For estimating total human exposure, an exposure assessment model currently used by the Dutch government has been applied. A standard scenario bas been applied, which is based on sediment concentrations as input parameter. After modeling this standard scenario, the most important exposure pathway appeared to be the ingestion of contaminated fish, and calculations indicated a health hazard for Pb and Zn. Input data for a more location specific scenario have been obtained via analyses of samples from sediment, surface water and suspended matter. Incorporation of these data (concentrations in surface water) indicates that the risk of exposure via the ingestion of contaminated fish is by more than two orders of magnitude lower and appeared to be negligible. In both scenarios, many assumptions have to be made and the estimated risks do not represent actual risks. However, from this study can be concluded that location-specific data are necessary if exposure through the ingestion of fish is a relevant exposure pathway, furthermore, this health risk assessment is useful as a screening methodology to identify important exposure pathways and to assess the urgency of sediment remediation actions.
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