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Exploring consumer pathways and patterns of use for chemicals in the environment
Citation:
Dionisio, K., A. Frame, M. Goldsmith, J. Wambaugh, A. Liddell, T. Cathay, D. Smith, J. Vail, A. Ernstoff, P. Fantke, O. Jolliet, AND R. Judson. Exploring consumer pathways and patterns of use for chemicals in the environment. Toxicology Reports. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2:228-237, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s (NERL’s) 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:
Background: Humans may be exposed to thousands of chemicals through contact in the workplace, home, and via air, water, food, and soil. A major challenge is estimating exposures to these chemicals, which requires understanding potential exposure routes directly related to how chemicals are used. Objectives: We aimed to assign “use categories” to a database of chemicals, including ingredients in consumer products, to help prioritize which chemicals will be given more scrutiny relative to human exposure potential and target populations. The goal was to identify (a) human activities that result in increased chemical exposure while (b) simplifying the dimensionality of hazard assessment for risk characterization. Methods: Major data sources on consumer- and industrial-process based chemical uses were compiled from multiple countries, including from regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and retailers. The resulting categorical chemical use and functional information are presented through the Chemical/Product Categories Database (CPCat). Results: CPCat contains information on 43,596 unique chemicals mapped to 833 terms categorizing their usage or function. Examples presented demonstrate potential applications of the CPCat database, including the identification of chemicals to which children may be exposed (including those that are not identified on product ingredient labels), and prioritization of chemicals for toxicity screening. The CPCat database is available at: http://actor.epa.gov/cpcat. Conclusions: The CPCat database is useful for modeling and prioritizing human chemical exposures. It is a valuable resource for regulators, risk assessors, and exposure scientists to group chemicals by their use or function, and to help identify potential types of human exposures and exposure routes.
URLs/Downloads:
CPCAT_2014DEC02_FIGSINTEXT_CLEAN.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 395.62 KB, about PDF)SUPPLEMENTAL_CPCAT_2014OCT09.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 98.51 KB, about PDF)
Toxicology Reports
