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IMPROVING EXPOSURE DATA INPUTS NEEDED TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF OLDER ADULTS
Citation:
THOMAS, K. W., N. S. TULVE, T. R. MCCURDY, M. S. OKINO, AND L. J. MELNYK. IMPROVING EXPOSURE DATA INPUTS NEEDED TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF OLDER ADULTS. Presented at EPA Science Forum - 2006, Washington, DC, May 16 - 18, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
The overall goal of this work is to develop information to assess potential environmental health risks and susceptibility in the aging population. Initial work will be directed toward developing information that can be used to identify and characterize what is known about activity, exposure, and dose for key life stages in the aging population and to identify key data gaps to be addressed through further research. Specific research objectives have been identified to address four discrete elements of the environmental paradigm for an aging population.
1) Identify key chemical and biological stressors in the older adult population, compile extant information on exposures to these agents and the extent to which they may be different in aging and other populations, and identify key gaps in our knowledge of exposure to important stressors.
2) Identify the key life stages in the older adult population with regard to exposures and susceptibilities to chemical and biological stressors. Compile activity pattern and physiological information for older Americans in key life stages, including information on physical activity, dietary intakes, pharmaceutical use, and other possible stressors that may impact exposures and/or susceptibility. Identify key gaps in our knowledge of activities in subpopulations of the aging by life stages.
3) Incorporate changes in physiological parameters that result from aging in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models. Assess the relative sensitivity of aging-related changes in parameters for generation of dose estimates. Determine which parameters may require additional knowledge to improve the models.
4) Provide information developed for exposure, activity, and pharmacokinetics to extend existing exposure and PBPK models to aging populations and susceptible subpopulations at different life stages for use in risk assessment. Also, appropriate information will be provided for incorporation into an Older Adults Exposure Factors Handbook being prepared by NCEA.
Description:
An abstract has been prepared for the 2006 EPA Science forum that describes work to develop a scientific understanding of differential exposures, activities, and dose in aging populations and potentially susceptible subpopulations. When combined with information being developed on age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and physiological parameters, this research is expected to reduce uncertainties in risk assessment through understanding and elucidating the fundamental determinants of exposure and dose.