Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry in the study of childhood soil ingestion. Part 2. Recovery

Abstract

The methodology developed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of eight elements in samples related to childhood soil ingestion is applied to adult food, faeces and urine samples to establish the controlled recovery of soil ingested by adults. At the dosage of 500 mg of soil per day, almost quantitative recovery was observed for aluminium, silicon and yttrium. Calculations are examined to estimate the relative amounts of soil and dust ingested by children based on element concentration pairs in samples taken from the children's schools and homes. This approach provides as reliable a means of estimating the relative amount of dust or soil ingestion as are parental estimates of indoor and outdoor play activity.