You are here:
DEMONSTRATION OF LOW COST, LOW BURDEN EXPOSURE MONITORING STRATEGIES
Citation:
Fortmann, R. DEMONSTRATION OF LOW COST, LOW BURDEN EXPOSURE MONITORING STRATEGIES. Presented at National Children's Study Assembly Meeting, Baltimore, MD, December 17-18, 2002.
Impact/Purpose:
The primary objective of this study is to develop and demonstrate relevant, low cost, low burden monitoring strategies that can be used in a longitudinal epidemiological study that focuses on pregnant women and young children.
Description:
This study is designed to develop and demonstrate relevant, low-cost, low-burden monitoring strategies that could be used in large longitudinal exposure/epidemiological studies, such as the National Children's Study. The focus of this study is on (1) recruiting and retaining participants (children and their caretakers) in a longitudinal exposure study and (2) demonstrating the feasibility of measurement strategies that use remote employment of readily available, easy to use, state-of-the-art methods, instruments, and/or techniques for assessing human exposures to environmental contaminants. The monitoring strategy involves mailing sampling kits to study participants with instructions for collecting biological samples (e.g., urine, breast milk, and hair) and environmental samples, such as water, house dust, surface wipes, and personal air samples (badges worn by participating children). After collection, participants package and ship the samples back to the laboratory. Participants also complete an on-line questionnaire that collects information on contaminant sources and participant activities at the time of sample collection. Results will be analyzed to determine participant compliance with sampling protocols, sample collection rates, survey response rates, participant retention rates, and information on how to reduce participant burden. The outputs from this study will be important in developing strategies and methods for measuring exposures to chemical agents during the National Children's Study.
This work has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Contract No.68-D-99-012 to Research Triangle Institute. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication.