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The Role of Exposure Science in Air Quality Management
Citation:
WATKINS, T. H., S.T. RAO, AND R. Wyzga. The Role of Exposure Science in Air Quality Management. EM: AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S MAGAZINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS. Air & Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, (July 2008):24-27, (2008).
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 is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Air quality standards and regulations are designed to protect public health and the environment. However, there are issues regarding whether the current standards and regulations should be adjusted to be more protective or to more effectively target air quality management activities. People experience health impacts because of their exposure to air pollutants. Therefore, an understanding of exposure is vital for properly addressing air quality management issues. This article presents concepts of exposure and how these concepts could be applied to gain a better understanding of the relationships between air quality and human health, which, in turn, should help improve air quality management practices. While air pollution impacts both humans and ecological resources, the focus here is on human health outcomes.
