Modeling Human Exposure to Hazardous-Waste Sites: A Question of Completeness

Conference · Mon May 27 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5389808

Daniels, Jeffrey I. ^[1]; McKone, Thomas E. ^[1]

---

1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

In risk analysis, we use human-exposure assessments to translate contaminant sources into quantitative estimates of the amount of contaminant that comes in contact with human-environment boundaries, that is, the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, and the skin surface of individuals within a specified population. An assessment of intake requires that we determine how much crosses these boundaries. Exposure assessments often rely implicitly on the assumption that exposure can be linked by simple parameters to ambient concentrations in air, water, and soil. However, more realistic exposure models require that we abandon such simple assumptions. To link contaminant concentrations in water, air, or soil with potential human intakes, we construct pathway-exposure factors (PEFs). For each PEF we combine information on environmental partitioning as well as human anatomy, physiology, and behavior patterns into an algebraic term that converts concentrations of contaminants (in mg/L water, mg/m³ air, and mg/kg soil) into a daily intake per unit body weight in mg/kg-d for a specific route of exposure such as inhalation, ingestion, or dermal uptake. Using examples involving human exposure to either a radionuclide (tritium, ³H) or a toxic organic chemical (tetrachloroethylene, PCE) in soil, water, and air, we illustrate the use of PEFs and consider the implications for risk assessment.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5389808
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-105085; CONF-910508--1; ON: DE91016919
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL WASTES
CONTAMINATION
DOSES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PHYSIOLOGY
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOISOTOPES
RISK ASSESSMENT
TRITIUM
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES