Citation:

VALLERO, D. A., T. L. CONNER, AND R. HIGHSMITH. IDENTIFYING HIGH PRIORITY EXPOSURE RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE EPA ASBESTOS ACTION PLAN. Presented at Asbestos Site Evaluation Communication and Cleanup, Tampa, FL, December 08 - 10, 2004.

Impact/Purpose:

The goal of this research to develop models and computational tools to improve understanding of the functional relationships underlying human exposure to air toxics, and to reduce uncertainty in estimates of exposure to individuals and populations of concern. This goal will be met by addressing a number of key objectives in this task and include:

Model Research and Development: develop a multiroute/pathway/media human exposure and dose model for air toxics.

Model Application: apply model to an urban area (Houston, TX) to estimate human population exposure and dose.

Model Performance Evaluation: compare and evaluate exposure and dose estimates with independent model estimates or personal exposure measurements

Description:

The EPA Asbestos Action Plan outlines areas, including two exposure assessment areas, where research is needed to reduce uncertainties in current asbestos risk assessments. Scientists from the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) recently conducted survey and literature searches to identify potential data/methods/research gaps and areas of uncertainty in conducting asbestos exposure assessments. The Regional Asbestos Coordinators and representatives of EPAs Asbestos Coordination Team were asked to complete a relatively simple survey where they would identify the most important asbestos exposure scenarios they routinely address. They were also asked to identify the sampling and analytical methods used to conduct these asbestos scenario assessments and to include any problems they encounter in their scenario assessments. The results of these surveys and queries have been summarized and will be presented during the general conference session, with opportunities for additional discussion and clarification of these reported issues occurring in the subsequent breakout sessions. During the breakout group discussions, EPAs Office of Research and Development will work with the participants to refine and clarify the research issues and to gain consensus regarding the overall highest priority exposure research needs. During a final breakout session, NERL will present a summary of the workshop discussions and proposals, to include a draft prioritized list of exposure research needs for review and discussion. Through this iterative gap analysis process, ORD and the members of the EPA Asbestos Coordination Team will develop a final list of priority asbestos exposure research needs that can be used as the basis for ORDs asbestos exposure research plan.

Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.

Record Details: