Human health risk assessment in relation to environmental pollution of two artificial freshwater lakes in the The Netherlands

Recreational activities on two artificial freshwater lakes along the River Meuse in The Netherlands are discussed relative to environmental pollution and human health risk assessment. Levels of contaminants are persistent in sediments although discharges have been reduced in recent decades. The highest intake seems to be associated with consumption of contaminated fish and resulting exposure to lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Taking into account concentrations in surface water, risk from consumption of contaminated fish went down by more than two orders of magnitude to negligible. The degree of uncertainty is high for both exposure assessments.