Schadstoffbelastung durch Persorption von Bodenpartikeln

The term persorption describes the paracellular uptake of particles from the digestive tract. It has been shown that solid, hard microparticles such as starch granules, cellulose particles, fibres and crystals are incorporated from the digestive tract. It is likely that an uptake of soil contaminants may also occur via this mechanism, thereby increasing the health risks of children through soil ingestion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of such soil contaminant absorption via this mechanism using data from the literature. Since no information was available on the persorption of soil particles, studies using other models had to be evaluated. The results of these studies show that a persorption of soil particles must be expected. The maximum persorption rate occurs for diameters of <35 μm which is in the range of diameters of street dust, clay and coarse clay. The persorption of these particles is therefore of significance. Data from the literature, however, does not allow an estimation of the magnitude of persorption of such soil particles. Basically, it is conceivable that a relevant ingestion of less mobile pollutants is possible through their persorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Aside from an increased internal exposure via the persorption of soil particles carrying contaminants, additional health risks may occur through the long-term deposit of such particles, the presence of potential allergens as well as through the embolisation of small vessels.