Children's exposure assessment: a review of factors influencing Children's exposure, and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure.

Abstract

We review the factors influencing children's exposure to environmental contaminants and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure. Children's activity pattern data requirements are demonstrated in the context of the algorithms used to estimate exposure by inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion. Currently, data on children's exposures and activities are insufficient to adequately assess multimedia exposures to environmental contaminants. As a result, regulators use a series of default assumptions and exposure factors when conducting exposure assessments. Data to reduce uncertainty in the assumptions and exposure estimates are needed to ensure chemicals are regulated appropriately to protect children's health. To improve the database, advancement in the following general areas of research is required: identification of appropriate age/developmental benchmarks for categorizing children in exposure assessment; development and improvement of methods for monitoring children's exposures and activities; collection of activity pattern data for children (especially young children) required to assess exposure by all routes; collection of data on concentrations of environmental contaminants, biomarkers, and transfer coefficients that can be used as inputs to aggregate exposure models.

Transfer efficiencies of pesticides from household flooring surfaces to foods

“…Historically, dietary exposure of an individual has been measured by duplicate-diet methods in which the individual prepares and collects duplicate portions of foods or meals eaten for a specified time (24-96 h) (Berry, 1997;Melnyk et al, 1997;Thomas et al, 1997;Cohen-Hubal et al, 2000). However, it is often difficult to collect duplicate-diet samples from a young child because they are less likely to consume food in a structured environment (Cohen-Hubal et al, 2000) and may instead sit on the floor or walk around while eating.…”

“…However, it is often difficult to collect duplicate-diet samples from a young child because they are less likely to consume food in a structured environment (Cohen-Hubal et al, 2000) and may instead sit on the floor or walk around while eating. Non-traditional exposure measurement techniques and exposure models are being refined for more accurate assessments of dietary exposures of children (Akland et al, 2000;Melnyk et al, 2000).…”

An overview of human exposure modeling activities at the USEPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory

“…A microenvironment is considered to have a spatially homogeneous pollutant concentration, such that each time a person is in a particular type of microenvironment, the model will use the same concentration distribution. The term`microenvironment/macroactivity' has also been used to describe the categories of exposure situations (Cohen-Hubal et al, 2000).…”

Association of environmental indicators with teen alcohol use and problem behavior: Teens' observations vs. objectively-measured indicators

“…Activity space may provide a more accurate measure of contextual risks (Kwan, 2012). Global positioning system (GPS) devices can be used to assess activity space, by using detailed data to determine actual physical spaces and paths that people spend time in during their day (Wiehe et al, 2008, Maddison et al, 2010, Zenk et al, 2011, Cohen Hubal et al, 2000). For example, a study of substance issues among adults used GPS to assess locations and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to assess cravings, mood, and stress, finding that areas rated by research staff observers as more disordered were counterintuitively related to more positive mood, fewer cravings, and lower stress (Epstein et al, 2014).…”