Chemical mixtures: Evaluation of risk for child-specific exposures in a multi-stressor environment
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia (United States)
Evaluating the health impact from exposure to chemical mixtures is multifaceted. One component is exposure. Exposure, and consequently risk assessment for mixtures and chemicals in general, are often viewed in terms of a given exposure to a given population at a given location over a given time period. However, environmental exposures are present throughout human lifetime. As a result, an evaluation of risk must include the distinctive characteristics related to chemical exposures which will impact risk depending upon the particular life stage where exposure occurs. Risks to offspring may be associated with unique exposures in utero, during infancy, childhood, or adolescent periods. For example, exposure of infants to anthropogenic chemicals via breast milk may be of concern. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) approach to evaluating risks associated with exposure to mixtures of chemicals is presented. In addition to the breast milk issues, indoor exposure to combined air pollutants, drinking water contaminants, and soil and dust contaminants are discussed. The difference between a mixture's risk evaluation for children and adults is in the distinct exposure scenarios resulting from variations in behavior, physiology, and/or pharmacokinetics between adults and children rather than in the method for the specific mixtures evaluation per se.
- OSTI ID:
- 21180477
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 233, Issue 1; Conference: 2007 TRAC: 2007 toxicology and risk assessment conference: Emerging issues and challenges in risk assessment, West Chester, OH (United States), 23-26 Apr 2007; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2008.01.015; PII: S0041-008X(08)00030-6; Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Environmental causes of cancer in childhood
The risk of childhood cancer from intrauterine and preconceptional exposure to ionizing radiation