Potentially harmful elements (PHE) in the environment, either derived from natural or man-made sources, are known to have impacts on human health. The British Geological Survey’s Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (GBASE) quantifies the concentrations of some 50 elements in soils across the UK. BGS’s medical geologists have studied how much of these contaminants are available for absorption into the systemic circulation of the human body through different exposure routes. There is, however, a lack of information on the relationship between the concentrations of the PHEs in soil in a specified area and the concentration of the PHE in humans living in the same location. In order to obtain this information detailed studies of the body burdens of PHEs in human subjects (as measured by human biomarkers, e.g. blood, urine, finger/toenails and hair) is required alongside of high resolution geochemical sampling of the local soils.

This information will provide medical practitioners and risk assessors with the necessary information required to assess what concentration of PHE in soil constitutes a safe level.