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An Overview of Exposure Assessment Models Used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Citation:
WILLIAMS, P., B. HUBBELL, E. J. WEBER, C. FEHRENBACHER, D. HRDY, AND V. G. ZARTARIAN. An Overview of Exposure Assessment Models Used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Vol 2, Chapter 3, ILM Publications, SAINT ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, Uk, , 61-131, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD′s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA′s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools are improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Models are often used in addition to or in lieu of monitoring data to estimate environmental concentrations and exposures for use in risk assessments or epidemiological studies, and to support regulatory standards and voluntary programs (Jayjock et al., 2007; US EPA, 1989, 1992). The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of 35 models currently supported and used by the US EPA to assess exposures to human or ecological receptors (see Table 3.1 for a list of abbreviations). These models differ in regard to their purpose, and level and scope of analysis. For example, some of the exposure assessment models refer to a single pollutant or exposure pathway, while others assess multiple pollutants and pathways. Additionally, most of these models pertain to either human or ecological receptors, although a few are applicable to both receptor groups. These models may target the general population, subgroups within the population, or individuals (e.g., workers, consumers). In regard to temporal and spatial scale, some of these models predict acute, subchronic and/or chronic exposures at the local, urban, regional and/or national level. These models are frequently used by, and have sometimes been developed in collaboration with, researchers and practitioners in academia, consulting, private industry, state and local governments, and internationally.