Impact/Purpose:

The primary objective of this research project is to develop a scientifically-robust, complete multimedia, multi-pathway human exposure source-to-dose modeling system with modules and computational tools that can estimate exposures and doses to the general population, as well as to identifiable susceptible subpopulations, and can predict and diagnose the complex relationships which exist between source and exposure and dose -- and to ensure that this scientifically sound model, with its associated tools and the various modules included within, meets the needs of Program Offices and the scientific community for conducting risk assessments.

Description:

The NERL human exposure research program is designed to provide a sound, scientifically-based approach to understanding how people are actually exposed to pollutants and the factors and pathways influencing exposure and dose. This research project serves to integrate and incorporate human exposure measurements, models, and methods from all aspects of EPA's research programs (i.e., from multiple GPRA Goal areas, including Goals 8, 3, and 1 into a comprehensive, scientifically sound framework for evaluating human exposures. The objective of this research project is to develop the components, algorithms, computational tools and platform required to conduct a comprehensive source-to-dose multimedia, multi-pathway human exposure modeling assessment for estimating exposures and doses to both the general population and to identifiable susceptible subpopulations. This modeling system and tools will be used to predict and diagnose the complex relationships between source and exposure and dose. Extensive collaboration with scientists from ORD (e.g., NERL, NRMRL, NHEERL, NCEA) and program offices (e.g., OPPTS, OAQPS, OW) is an essential element of this effort. To assist NERL's in-house effort in this endeavor, the US EPA has entered into multi-year assistance agreements with two research consortia who possess extensive experience in human exposure modeling and risk assessment. These five year agreements are: (1) an Interagency Agreement between the US EPA and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) with Dr. Thomas McKone as Principal Investigator; and (2) a Cooperative Agreement between the US EPA and the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) with Drs. Paul Lioy and Panos Georgopoulos as Co-Principal Investigators.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:10/01/1998

Completion Date:09/01/2004

Record ID: 56154

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Project Information:

Progress :To date, research activity has focused on the development of the conceptual components for a source-to-dose human exposure modeling framework, and the initial testing of the framework for exposures and dosimetry using the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose System (SHEDS) models being developed by NERL (see TD #5732 and TD #3948). Also, significant progress has been made in the development and refinement of important framework components such as an improved understanding of phase, spatial, and temporal distributional characteristics for various pollutants of interest and a better accounting for sensitivity and uncertainty in model inputs and outputs. Some of the publications which have resulted from this project are listed below.


Journal articles:

Klepeis, N.E., W.C. Nelson, W.R. Ott, J.P. Robinson, A.M. Tsang, P. Switzer, J.V. Behar, S.C. Hern, and W.H. Engelmann, "The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): A Resource for Assessing Exposure to Environmental Pollutants," J. Exposure Anal. & Environ. Epidemiology (2001), 11, 231-252.

Bennett, D.H., T.E. McKone, W.E. Kastenberg, "Evaluating Chemical Persistence in a Multimedia Environment: A CART Analysis," J. Environ. Toxicol. & Chemistry (2000), 19, 32-46.

Maddalena, R.L., T.E. McKone, D.P.H. Hsieh, and S. Geng, "Influential Input Classification in Probabilistic Multimedia Models," Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment (2001), 15, 1-17.

Bennett, D.H., M. Scheringer, T.E. McKone, and K. Hungerbuhler, "Predicting Long-Range Transport: A Systematic Evaluation of Two Multimedia Transport Models," Environ. Sci. & Technol. (2001), 35, 1181-1189.

Isukapalli S., Roy A. and P.G. Georgopoulos, "Efficient Sensitivity/Uncertainty Analysis Using the Combined Stochastic Response Surface Method (SRSM) and Automatic Differentiation for Fortran code (ADIFOR): Application to Environmental and Biological Systems," Risk Analysis (2000), 20, 591-602.

Broday D. and P.G. Georgopoulos, "Growth and Deposition of Hygroscopic Particulate Matter in the Human Lung," Aerosol Sci. Tech. (2001), 34, 144-159.

Drossinos, Y., P.G. Kevrekedis, and P.G. Georgopoulos, "Translational Invariance in Nucleation Dynamics: I. Theoretical Formulation," Physical Review E (2001), 63, 036123.1-036123.13.

Lazaridis, M., D. Broday, O. Hov, and P.G. Georgopoulos, "An Integrated Exposure and Dose Modeling and Analysis System - Part III: Deposition of Inhaled Particles in the Human Respiratory Tract," Environ. Sci. & Technol. (2001)., 35, 3727-3734.

McKone, T.E. and E.G. Hertwich, "The Human Toxicity Potential and a Strategy for Evaluating Model Performance in Life-Cycle Impact Assessment," International Journal of Life-Cycle Assessment (2001), 6(2), 106-109.


Journal Communications:

McKone, T.E. and S.K. Hammond, "More concerns about incineration - Response," Environ. Sci. & Technol. (2000), 34(23), 498A-499A.

Switzer, P., Letter to the Editor on issues about the relations among ambient particulate matter (PM), personal exposures, and mortality, Journal of the Air research. The meeting format has included time for formal presentation of research results as well as time allocated for scientist-to-scientist discussions on topics of interest to the collaborating researchers. Information regarding the project is also currently being posted on the EPA Intranet (and soon on the internet) in order to make it easily available to interested parties within the Agency and beyond.

Clients :US EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Office

Project IDs:

ID Code :3957

Project type :OMIS


Clients :US EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Office

Project IDs:

ID Code :3957

Project type :OMIS


Clients :US EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Office

Project IDs:

ID Code :3957

Project type :OMIS