| Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and film samples collected from ten households in Kampala, Uganda were determined and then used in a screening-level risk assessment to quantify exposure among children two- and five- years old. Film, back-calculated air and soil concentrations were 141-467 ng/m2, 16-220 ng/m3 and 86-270 ng/g wet weight, respectively. Film and air concentrations were higher indoors than outdoors and not related to traffic volume, smoking, fuel type and land use. The highest contaminant estimated daily intakes were for girls and younger children due to higher levels of food intake per kilogram body weight. The driving exposure pathways were belowground vegetables, cereals and grains as well as fish. Exposure risk levels were below the action levels of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, European Commission (1.0) and MUM-FAMrisk (0.2). However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously in light of the uncertainties associated with screening-level risk assessments. |
