EC2CO AEROBOL project

**Measurements of the redox properties and bioaccessibility of BOLIVIA AEROsols in a mining context

This vast scientific question is motivated by the need for public authorities to control the human, economic and social consequences as effectively as possible. This is certainly the case in Europe, but also in emerging countries. In Bolivia, mining activities in the city of Oruro (220,000 inhabitants) began in the 17th century. The minerals mined are mainly Sn, Ag, Pb, Pb, Zn, Au, Sb and W. Several types of sources (smelters, mining waste) are responsible for atmospheric contamination in the city.

Mining and urban contamination has already been the subject of research during the ANR ToxBol programme (2006-2010), but many questions remain unanswered regarding the health impact and exposure of populations. Indeed, metal concentrations in the air do not correlate with blood concentrations in the population, which raises the question of the bioaccessibility of the aerosol.

This project aims to implement new tools characterizing air quality and its biological impact, using non-invasive techniques. The objectives can be expressed in three points :

• Determine the variation in bioaccessibility of aerosols, particularly trace metals, by size and origin (chemical composition) ;
• Optimize and validate a test to evaluate the oxidizing potential of aerosols for different types of mixtures.
• Determine if Tillandsia, an epiphyte plant adapted to the Andean climate, can be used as a bioindicator of air quality.

– See also