Predicting human exposure from multiple pathways: An integrated approach
Human populations are in continuous contact with varying amounts of environmental pollutants in food, water, and air. Managing the health and environmental risks related to environmental pollutants requires an integrated model for estimating environmental transport and human exposure. We developed methods and supporting data for deriving pathway-exposure factors (PEFs) that link chemical concentrations in multiple environmental media to human exposure. Each PEF numerically translates a chemical concentration in each of the primary environmental media (air, water, and soil) into population exposure rates (in mg/kg-d) for specific routes of exposure. Incorporated into each PEF is information on human physiology and life style, as well as data describing pollutant behavior in food chains or in microenvironments, such as indoor air. We developed PEFs for nine exposure pathways (inhalation; water intake; fruit and vegetable, and grain ingestion; meat, milk, and fish consumption; soil ingestion; and dermal absorption) associated with five environmental media{endash}atmospheric gases and particles; soil; and ground and surface water. We discuss here the matrix of PEFs that link these exposure pathways and environmental media and describe the human, animal, and environmental data needed to derive the respective PEFs. Using examples for exposure to contaminants in potable water and to contaminants transferred from air to food, we consider the completeness of current exposure models and the treatment of uncertainty in exposure estimates. Results indicate that risk managers should consider the potential for multiple results indicate that risk managers should consider the potential for multiple pathways, avoid risk assessments derived from single value estimates, be aware of the uncertainty in risk estimates, and include this awareness in their decisions. 18 refs., 3 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP; EPA; STOFCA
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7069929
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-101503; CONF-8911166--1; ON: DE90006923
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Conventional weapons demilitarization: A health and environmental effects data base assessment: Methods for estimating multi-pathway exposures to environmental contaminants, Final report, Phase 2
Estimating human exposure through multiple pathways from air, water, and soil
Related Subjects
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CONTAMINATION
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FLUIDS
FOOD
FORECASTING
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILK
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
SAMPLING
SURFACE AIR
VERTEBRATES
WATER