Risk assessments of heavy metals in house dust from a typical industrial area in Central China

Heavy-metal pollution in house dust is of great potential hazard to human health, as people spend more than half of their time at home. To investigate heavy-metal pollution in a heavily air-polluted area of the Xi'an western industrial area, house dust was collected from relatively large residential quarters and <63 μm fraction of dust was measured for heavy metals. The results show that concentrations of Cr, Mn, Co, and V in the house dust are close to that in the local natural soil, whereas that of Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb are often significantly elevated—mainly caused by intensively industrial activities in this area. Total ecological risks of these eight metals are moderate to considerable in most (69%) dust samples, while they are considerable to high in the others, occurring at the southwest of the study area. Health risk assessments reveal that exposure of these eight metals in the house dust has no risks to adults but has significant non-cancer risks to children, predominantly caused by dust ingestion. The results of this study are helpful for environmental management in industrial areas.     

Influence of Matrix Composition on the Bioaccessibility of Copper,Zinc, and Nickel in Urban Residential Dust and Soil

This study examines factors affecting oral bioaccessibility of metals in household dust, in particular metal speciation, organic carbon content, and particle size, with the goal of addressing risk assessment information requirements. Investigation of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) speciation in two size fractions of dust (< 36 μ m and 80–150 μ m) using synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicates that the two metals are bound to different components of the dust: Cu is predominately associated with the organic phase of the dust, while Zn is predominately associated with the mineral fraction. Total and bioaccessible Cu, nickel (Ni), and Zn were determined (on dry weight basis) in the < 150 μ m size fraction of a set of archived indoor dust samples (n = 63) and corresponding garden soil samples (n = 66) from the City of Ottawa, Canada. The median bioaccessible Cu content is 66 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 5 μ g g^?1 in soil; the median bioaccessible Ni content is 16 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 2 μ g g^?1 in soil; and the median bioaccessible Zn content is 410 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 18 μ g g^?1 in soil. For the same data set, the median total Cu content is 152 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 17 μ g g^?1 in soil; the median total Ni content is 41 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 13 μ g g^?1 in soil; and the median total Zn content is 626 μ g g^?1 in dust compared to 84 μ g g^?1 in soil. Organic carbon is elevated in indoor dust (median 28%) compared to soil (median 5%), and is a key factor controlling metal partitioning and therefore bioaccessibility. The results show that house dust and soil have distinct geochemical signatures and should not be treated as identical media in exposure and risk assessments. Separate measurements of the indoor and outdoor environment are essential to improve the accuracy of residential risk assessments.     

Assessing the Bioavailability and Risk from Metal-Contaminated Soils and Dusts

Exposure to contaminated soil and dust is an important pathway in human health risk assessment. Physical and chemical characteristics and biological factors determine the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of soil and dust contaminants. Within a single sample, contamination may arise from multiple sources of toxic elements that may exist as different species that impact bioavailability. In turn, the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of soil and dust contaminants directly impacts human health risk. Research efforts focusing on development and application of in vitro and in vivo methods to measure the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of metal-contaminated soils have advanced in recent years. The objective of this workshop was to focus on developments in assessing the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of arsenic-contaminated soils, metals’ contamination in urban Canadian residences and potential children's exposures to toxic elements in house dust, an urban community-based study (i.e., West Oakland Residential Lead Assessment), bioavailability studies of soil cadmium, chromium, nickel, and mercury and human exposures to contaminated Brownfield soils. These presentations covered issues related to human health and bioavailability along with the most recent studies on community participation in assessing metals’ contamination, studies of exposures to residential contamination, and in vitro and in vivo methods development for assessing the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of metals in soils and dusts.     

Use of the IEUBK Model for Determination of Exposure Routes in View of Site Remediation

The Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model is frequently used to estimate blood lead concentrations of children exposed to lead. Simulations with the IEUBK model were run to estimate the blood lead concentration in children living in the vicinity of a non-ferrous plant, situated in Hoboken, Belgium. Concentrations in soil ranged from 59–2425 mg Pb/kg dm, average concentrations in house dust ranged from 234–73394 mg Pb/kg dm. Measured blood lead concentrations in children aged 2–7 years were between 3 and 35 μ g/dl. Exposure sources were indoor dust in the house and the school, outdoor dust and soil in the home surrounding and at the school's playground, and suspended dust in the air. Soil ingestion values and lead exposure from food were changed to Flemish values. The model was able to predict the measured blood lead concentrations adequately except for the lowest exposure group. Predictions showed a systematic overestimation. Analysis of the data revealed that the neighbourhood's school is an important source of exposure to lead; indoor house dust dominates exposure for children going to school outside the area, because of the high concentrations of lead in indoor dust (3 to 5 times higher than in outdoor soil).     

Distribution of extractable heavy metals in different soil fractions

Abstract

Due to the difficulties of precisely characterizing environmentally contaminated soil, the effects of heavy metals on plants are studied using uncontaminated soil spiked with known quantities of heavy metals. One problem in using spiked soils is how accurately the distribution of metals mimics stabilized natural soils. We studied the distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc in soil fractions after application in soluble form. The soil samples included a control (an uncontaminated Typic Argiudoll) and two samples spiked with either a moderate or high heavy metal concentration). After application of the salts the soils were subjected to wet/dry cycles over the course of three months. The soils were fractionated using a sequential chemical extraction procedure employing: (1) CaCl₂,(2) NaOH, (3) Na₂EDTA and (4) HNO₃, HCl, and HF. Soil physical separation was carried out by ultrasonic dispersion. The heavy metal levels were determined using ICP-AES. Each heavy metal displayed a unique behavior when added to soil in the form of soluble salts. Cadmium and zinc remained in the soluble fraction, indicating that no equilibrium was attained, while nickel primarily appeared in the insoluble fraction. Chromium, copper and lead were distributed among various soil chemical fractions. The highest levels of all metals appeared in the clay fraction except lead which was mainly present in the silt fraction.     

水溶性有机物在水旱轮作土壤剖面中的分馏现象

水溶性有机物(DOM)是有机物质中最为活跃的组成部分,在陆地生态系统物质的迁移转化过程中起重要作用．通过田间试验和室内理化分析证明了DOM在土壤剖面迁移过程中存在明显的“分馏”现象,随着土层深度的增加,对照、施化肥和施污泥处理土壤DOM的浓度分别由145．8、117．7和114．8mg·kg^-1降到21．57、23．23和13．78mg·kg^-l;不施肥和施化肥处理的土壤DOM随着深度的增加,极性物质所占的比例分别由19．01％和18．47％增至34．97％与44．37％,呈上升趋势,而非极性组分所占比例相应降低;施污泥处理则出现相反的规律,极性组分由36．96％降到17．07％,非极性组分由63．04％增为82．93％．土壤DOM的生物降解率由上到下对照和施化肥处理分别由24．38％和24．00％增大到54．74％和53．81％,而施污泥处理的变化规律则相反,由53．19％降到30．75％．DOM的生物降解率与DOM中极性物质的含量呈正相关关系．紫外光谱进一步证实了这一结果．     

Identification of Pt and Pd bound to humic acid species in spiked soils and street dusts by size exclusion chromatography and ICP-MS

Abstract

The formation of PGE-humic acid (HA) complexes in soil and street dust samples was investigated. In order to assess the distribution of Pt and Pd among molecular weight fractions of humic substances, the HA extracts (extracted by 0.1 mol L^?1 sodium pyrophosphate) were analysed by size exclusion chromato-graphy coupled on-line with UV-Vis detection. Similar chromatograms were obtained for soils and street dust samples (254 nm, 280 nm) and two size fractions were operationally defined as high (1600–5000 Da) and low molecular (< 1600 Da) HA fractions. The concentration of Pt and Pd in the separated extracts was determined by ICP-MS. The results indicate that up to 43% of Pt is in the high molecular and up to 52% in the low molecular HA fraction. In both type of soil samples, Pd is preferentially bound to the low molecular HA fraction. Dependence of Pd–HA and Pt–HA formation on the sample type both in the soils and in the street dust sample as well as on Pt oxidation state was established. Metallic Pt shows a tendency for complexation with the fractions of HA higher than 5000 Da. In the street dust samples, the distribution of Pt and Pd is similar and is strongly dependent on the sample type, being bound mainly to the fractions: higher than 5000 Da, 1600–5000 Da and the fraction lower than 1600 Da.     

Manure Application and Cannabis Cultivation Influence on Speciation of Lead and Cadmium by Selective Sequential Extraction

The contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Degradation of organic matter (OM) from organic amendments used in the remediation of metal-contaminated soils leads to changes in soil chemical properties shortly after their addition, which may affect the soil metal distribution. The effects of four differing organic amendments on chemical forms of Pb and Cd in a contaminated soil were investigated in a pot experiment of control unamended soil and soils amended with dry cow and poultry manures (20 g CM or PM kg^?1 soil), and cow and poultry manure extracts (2 g CME or PME kg^?1 soil) cultured with cannabis sativa. After eight weeks, a sequential extraction scheme was used to fractionate soil Pb and Cd into soluble-exchangeable (Sol-Exch), organic matter associated (AOM), and carbonates associated (ACar) forms. The addition of animal manures and their extracts increased the DTPA-extractable Pb and Cd in soil significantly. Soil Pb and Cd in Sol-Exch fraction were increased by manure applications. Both Pb and Cd in AOM fraction were increased by application of manures and their extracts. This increase was more obvious for Pb in application of cow and poultry manure extracts. The ACar chemical forms of Pb and Cd were also increased by application of manures and their extracts. The increases of Pb and Cd in Acar fraction was noticeable in soils treated with cow manure. Soil cultivation with cannabis sativa increased available, Sol-Exch, and AOM chemical forms of Pb in soil significantly compared to control soil. However, soil Pb and Cd in ACar fraction were decreased significantly by cannabis cultivation. The effect of cannabis cultivation on all of the Cd chemical forms (except on Sol-Exch) was similar to the results of Pb chemical forms. Plant cultivation had no significant effect on Cd in Sol-Exch chemical form.     

Changes in the speciation,partitioning and phytoavailability of chromium induced by organic soil amendments

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of two organic amendments (compost of cattle ruminai content and Sphagnum-moss peat) on the reduction of hexavalent chromium and the distribution of this metal among the main solid phases of a soil with low organic matter content treated with different levels of Cr(VI) (0–2000 mg Cr kg^?1 soil). At the same level of added organic carbon, the peat reduced Cr(VI) added to the soil from 250 to 2000 mg kg^?1, with 100% efficiency. The reduction efficiency of the compost, however, decreased with the increasing dose of Cr(VI) soil. The distribution of Cr between the different soil components was evaluated by a sequential chemical extraction procedure. The concentration of water-soluble and exchangeable Cr decreased with the addition of organic amendments to the soil, whereas Cr increased in the organic fraction. The effect of added organic material on the Cr absorption was examined with two ornamental plants (Melissa officinalis and Begonia semperflorens). The increased Cr(VI) in the soil increased the Cr concentration in plant tissues. The addition of organic matter produced a greater aerial biomass for each level of added Cr in comparison with unamended soil. Sphagnum moss peat was more effective than the compost to decrease the total Cr and the Cr(VI) concentration in the water-soluble and exchangeable fraction of soil, thereby reducing the Cr accumulation in plants tissues and phytotoxic symptoms.     

川西亚高山-高山土壤表层有机碳及活性组分沿海拔梯度的变化

青藏高原东缘亚高山-高山地带土壤碳被认为是我国重要的土壤碳库,作为高海拔低温生态系统,土壤碳对土壤暖化的响应可能也更加敏感。该区域亚高山森林一般分布在海拔3200 m以上,上缘接高山树线和灌丛草地,土壤有机碳含量高。海拔梯度上变化的土壤环境因子是主要土壤温度,海拔梯度上高寒土壤有机碳及活性有机碳组的分布格局,可体现海拔梯度上温度因子对土壤碳动态的影响。对沿海拔3200 m(亚高山针叶林)、3340 m(亚高山针叶林)、3540 m(亚高山针叶林)、3670 m(亚高山针叶林)、3740 m(亚高山针叶林)、3850 m(高山林线)、3940 m(高山树线)、4120 m(高山草地)的土壤表层(0-20 cm)有机碳和活性有机碳组分含量进行分析,结果表明在该海拔范围内,表层土壤总有机碳含量随着海拔的升高而增加,显示高海拔有利于土壤碳的固存;土壤活性有机碳组分中,颗粒态有机碳含量及其占总有机碳比例与海拔呈显著正相关,在海拔最高的4120 m含量和占有机碳总量比例分别达到50.81 g/kg和56.52%。在该海拔范围内海拔越高颗粒态有机碳占有机碳比例越高,显示高海拔土壤有机碳更多以土壤颗粒态碳形式贮存。微生物量碳、水溶性碳、轻组分有机碳与海拔高度没有明显的相关性,表明这些活性有机碳组分受海拔因素影响不大;易氧化有机碳含量与海拔高度显著正相关。因此,颗粒态有机碳含量及其比例可作为高海拔地带土壤活性有机碳库动态的特征指标,表征高海拔地带土壤有机碳动态与贮量受温度影响的指标。     

Revisiting Dust and Soil Ingestion Rates Based on Hand-to-Mouth Transfer

Soil ingestion rates calculated using a tracer-based mass balance approach may carry considerable study errors, insensitivities, and “artefacts” of analysis that result in significant uncertainty. These same soil ingestion rates are often used as surrogates for dust ingestion rates. Therefore, a more direct and mechanistic method was developed to estimate soil and dust ingestion rates. The soil and dust ingestion rates were calculated using measures of: particle loading to indoor surfaces; fraction transferred to the hands; hand surface area; fraction of hand surface area that may be mouthed or contact food; frequency of hand-to-mouth events, amount dissolved by saliva; and exposure time. Adapted specifically for the Canadian context, estimated mean indoor dust ingestion rates range from 2.2 mg/d for teenagers to 41 mg/d for toddlers; mean soil ingestion rates range from 1.2 mg/d for seniors to 23 mg/d for children. Combined soil and dust ingestion rates ranged from 3.8 mg/d for seniors to 61 mg/d for toddlers. These ingestion rates are lower than values adopted by most agencies. These ingestion rates are mechanistic, can be adjusted on a site-specific basis, can be modified into an hourly rate and are presented as a more realistic alternative to traditional mass balance approaches.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Human and Ecological Risk Assessment to view the free supplementary files.]     

东北次生杨桦林土壤碳氮动态特征

土壤分级组分是研究其碳氮动态的基础,次生杨桦林作为东北地区主要的天然林类型,目前相关数据的欠缺状态要求对此进行深入研究。为此,采集0—10cm、10—20cm、20—30cm长白山次生杨桦林土壤,通过土壤颗粒组分物理化学分级方法,将土壤分成5种组分:沙和稳定团聚体土壤组分(SA)、酸不溶土壤组分(AI)、易氧化土壤组分(EO)、颗粒态土壤组分(P)和可溶性土壤组分(S),进而分析了不同组分的质量分数、碳氮含量、碳氮分配比例及红外光谱5类官能团相对含量,旨在探讨次生杨桦林土壤固碳、氮供应机制。结果显示,接近90%的土壤质量集中在稳定组分AI(66.21%)和SA(22.11%)上,导致稳定组分中碳截获量最大(占土壤总碳量的2/3),而且其C/N比活跃组分(P和EO)大2—9倍;与碳不同,由于活跃组分中N含量比稳定组分大4—80倍,致使活跃组分P和EO氮的分配比例最大,分别占土壤总氮的33.1%和26.0%;除了占土壤质量很少的P和S外,组分间以及组分内的碳氮间多具有显著相关关系。这种土壤碳、氮在不同组分间贮存方式的差异使得土壤碳储存稳定性更高、而N肥力供应更快速。伴随不同组分碳氮储存的变化,不同组分间红外官能团存在显著差异,AI组分中绝大多数官能团相对含量均最低,而P和S组分中绝大多数官能团相对含量均较高,绝大多数官能团相对含量与碳含量、氮含量呈现显著的正相关关系,反映了官能团具有维持土壤碳氮的功能。同时,官能团与土壤C/N具有显著相关关系,反映出组分官能团相对含量的高低具有指示组分化学活性高低的作用。研究发现对于林分土壤的碳截获与氮供应的机制阐明具有重要的科学意义,这为深入了解东北次生杨桦林碳氮动态及对未来气候的响应提供基础数据。     

工矿区不同类型生物结皮对大气降尘重金属的富集规律及其影响因子

大气降尘是矿区土壤重金属的主要来源,而生物结皮对大气降尘重金属有显著的富集作用。为探究不同类型生物结皮对大气降尘重金属的富集规律及其影响因子,选取宁东典型火电厂周边生物结皮广布区作为试验样地,3类生物结皮作为研究对象,并以临近裸土作为对照,对比分析了生物结皮富集大气降尘过程中土壤理化性质、酶活性及重金属含量的变化,采用相关分析、冗余分析和方差分解方法探讨了不同类型生物结皮的结皮层(A层)和层下土壤(B层)重金属含量与其土壤物理、化学性质及酶活性之间的关系。结果表明：燃煤烟尘是矿区大气降尘重金属污染的主要来源,涉及重金属元素包括Cd、Cr、Hg、Pb、Zn、As。生物结皮对源自大气降尘的重金属元素均具有显著的富集作用,且在不同演替阶段生物结皮间的富集规律完全一致：藓结皮>混生结皮>藻结皮;重金属综合污染指数评价结果显示：生物结皮对重金属具有表层富集效应,表现为A层污染程度高于B层。不同类型生物结皮A、B层综合污染指数存在显著差异,排序为：藓结皮>混生结皮>藻结皮;和对照相比,三类生物结皮均能通过富集大气降尘增加其A、B层养分和细颗粒物含量并改善土壤质地。方差分解结...     

Allergenic mites (Acariformes, Pyroglyphidae) in house dust

Paper is the second part of the literature review on house dust mites (including 1985). It deals with the diagnosis of the dust mite allergy, the nature of the mite allergens, distribution and population density of the mites in various premises, seasonal population dynamics and population age structure of the dermatophagoid mites, life cycle and breeding of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae on different food substrates. The methods of the house dust mite control are discussed. The original data on the house dust mite distribution in Moscow is shown. A comparative estimation of the results of mite antigens in the house dust discovering by the acarological and three immunological methods are given.     

河北主要土壤中Cd、Pb形态与油菜有效性的关系

当今土壤重金属污染日趋严重而表征土壤污染程度 的指标不够完善、相关性亦较差。为此,采用网室盆栽试验,研究了河北平原主要土壤类型潮土和潮褐土上Cd、Pb的化学形态特征及其与油菜植株干物重、油菜吸收重金属含量的关系。结果表明Cd对油菜的毒害作用大于Pb。总量及各形态Cd、Pb含量与油菜可食部分干物重呈负相关,对油菜干物重影响最大的是交换态Cd、Pb。而对油菜吸收Cd、Pb贡献最大的形态是碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态。深入研究重金属形成与植物有效性间的关系,可为进一步揭示重金属的生物有效性,为更准确评价土壤重金属污染程度提供理论依据,具有重要的理论意义和实际应用价值。     

Labile pool of cadmium in sludge-treated soils

The labile pool of cadmium in sludge-treated soils was determined by application of isotopic dilution principle under laboratory and green house conditions using moong (Phaseolus aureus L.) as test crop. The laboratory indices like isotopic distribution coefficient (Kd) of 115Cd in 0.1 M CaCl2, labile pool (LP) of Cd in DTPA–CaCl2–Na acetate (adjusted to pH 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0) and supply parameter (SP) using Kd as intensity and LP as capacity factor of Cd in soils, were computed to compare these values with actual uptake of Cd by the crop to test them as indices of Cd availability. The path-ways of transfer of soil Cd from the discrete chemical pools to plants were also computed. The LP (pH 7.0) and the SP were significantly correlated with the concentration of Cd in plants and its uptake by the crop. They are, therefore, good indices of Cd availability in sludge treated vertisol soils and can be used as reference indices for standarization of chemical extractants. The water soluble + exchangeable Cd and the 0.05 M EDTA extractable Cd were observed to be the two major chemical pools of Cd in soils responsible for supply of this element to plants. As substantial part of 0.1 M Na4P2O7 extractable Cd applied to the soils remains in same form, they are not transfered into the food chain. The amounts of soil Cd extracted by DTPA–CaCl2–TEA (pH 7.3), EDTA–NH4OAC (pH 7.3) and Mg(NO3)2 (pH 6.0) were significantly correlated with concentration of Cd in plants and with uptake of Cd by moong crop.     

Dust in the universe: Implications for terrestrial prebiotic chemistry

In the present review we analyze the available literature on the distribution of dust in the Universe, methods of its observation and determination of the chemical composition, and the roles for terrestrial prebiotic chemistry. The most plausible natural sources of dust on the Earth in the prebiotic era are sedimentation of interplanetary dust, meteoritic and cometary impacts, volcanic eruptions, and soil microparticulates; the interplanetary medium being among the most powerful supplier of the dust matter. Two fundamental roles of dust particles for the origins of life are considered: (1) catalytic formation of prebiotic compounds; and (2) delivery of organic matter to the Earth by space dust particles. Due to the fact that there is only approximate information on the chemical composition and properties of interstellar, circumstellar, and major part of interplanetary dust, even the simulating experiments are difficult to perform. Until these gaps are filled, it seems reasonable to focus efforts of the scientists dealing with dust-driven catalytic formation of prebiotically important compounds on the volcanic and meteoritic/cometary impact environments.     

Comparison of Source Identification of Metals in Road-Dust and Soil

Source identification of toxic metals is very critical for pollution prevention and human health protection. Many studies only use either road dust metal data or soil metal data to evaluate metal contamination and identify pollution sources, and this may lead to the exclusion of some important information. In this study, the differences of metal spatial distribution and source identification between road dust and associated soil in an industrial area were investigated.

Results indicate the metal concentrations in road dust were generally higher than those in soil. Based on the average concentrations, the order for dust metal concentrations was Fe>>Zn>>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni. The order for soil metal concentrations was slightly different, namely Fe>>Zn>>Cu～Pb>Ni>Cr. The spatial distributions of metals in the road dust were very different from those in the soil, except for Fe. The GIS results indicate that elevated levels of Fe, Zn, and Pb were present in road dust near a steel plant. High concentrations of Cu, Cr, and Ni appeared at a road intersection. Elevated metal concentrations of Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr were present in soil around the steel plant. A coal-fired power plant did not seem to be a significant metal source in this study. Significant correlations for dust metals imply that these were well mixed in the study area. The metal sources identified by PCA with soil metal data were obviously different from those identified with road dust metal data. When road dust metal data were used, the changes of PCA analyzed areas slightly influenced the source identification. The PCA results were obviously influenced by changes of analyzed areas when soil metal data were used.     

土壤胡敏素研究进展

土壤有机质是土壤的重要组成部分,在土壤肥力和生态环境等方面都具有重要作用.作为土壤有机质主体的腐殖物质的研究,一直受到各国学者的普遍重视.在土壤腐殖物质3组分中,以往的研究主要集中于可溶性的胡敏酸和富里酸,而对不溶性的胡敏素则较少涉及.从分离、结构和作用3个方面,综述了土壤胡敏素的研究现状和最新进展,并对今后的研究方向进行了展望,以促进胡敏素研究的继续深入开展.提出近期的研究重点主要包括:(1)比较不同分离方法获得的土壤胡敏素的差异,以达到方法上的可比性和统一性,同时提出更适宜的分离方法;(2)通过多种分析测试手段的相互补充验证,以获得对土壤胡敏素结构本质更加明确、清晰和深入的认识;(3)加强土壤胡敏素肥力和环境作用的研究,尤其应重视从分子水平上探明其构效关系,为生产实践和应用提供理论依据.     

What proportion of household dust is derived from outdoor soil?

This report estimated the amount of outdoor soil in indoor dust in the Calabrese et al. (1989) children soil ingestion study via the use of statistical modelling. The estimate used data on outdoor soil and indoor dust in the homes of 60 children with eight tracer elements (Al, Ba, Mn, Si, Ti, V, Y, and Zr). The model estimated that 31.3% of indoor dust had an origin of outdoor soil. Based on a previous report (Stanek and Calabrese, 1992) on differential soil from dust ingestion in the Calabrese et al. (1989) study and the data of the present analysis, the median outdoor soil ingestion of the Calabrese et al. (1989) study should be revised downward by 35%. For the three most reliable tracers, the median soil ingestion estimates would be reduced from 29 to 19 mg/d for Al, 55 to 36 mg/d for Ti, and 16 to 10 mg/d for, Zr.