Household exposure models
Human exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in tap water is often assumed to be dominated by ingestion of drinking water. This paper addresses the relative importance of inhalation and dermal exposures in a typical household. A three-compartment model is used to simulate the 24-h concentration history of VOCs in the shower, bathroom, and remaining household volumes as a result of tap water use. Mass transfers from water to air are derived from measured data for radon and used to estimate mass-transfer properties for VOCs. The model is used to calculate a range of concentrations and human exposures in US dwellings. The estimated ratio of household- inhalation uptake to ingestion uptake is in the range of 1 to 6 for VOCs. We use a dermal absorption model to assess exposure across the skin boundary during baths and showers. The ratio of dermal exposure to ingestion exposure is in the range 0.6 to 1. 24 refs., 1 fig., 7 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6568271
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-99591; CONF-8811128-1; ON: DE89004886
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320107* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDINGS
DERMATITIS
DISEASES
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SKIN DISEASES
WATER