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LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF YOUNG CHILDREN'S EXPOSURES IN THEIR HOMES TO SELECTED PESTICIDES, PHTHALATES, BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS, AND PERFLUORINATED CHEMICALS (A CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE RESEARCH STUDY - CHEERS)
Citation:
Tulve, N S. AND R C. Fortmann. LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF YOUNG CHILDREN'S EXPOSURES IN THEIR HOMES TO SELECTED PESTICIDES, PHTHALATES, BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS, AND PERFLUORINATED CHEMICALS (A CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE RESEARCH STUDY - CHEERS). Presented at American Chemistry Council Peer Advisory Committee Meeting, Arlington, VA, October 6, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
1. Identify and evaluate the factors that affect children's exposures as a function of age (for age bins proposed by EPA's Risk Assessment Forum).
2. Determine the impact of microenvironment and macroactivity on children's exposure to current-use pesticides and selected phthalates in residences.
3. Determine temporal variability of multimedia concentrations of selected pesticides and phthalates in the residences of very young children (0 to 3 years of age).
4. Perform aggregate exposure estimates for current-use pesticides (soon after application) and phthalates for very young children.
5. Evaluate the relationship between concentrations of biomarkers of exposure measured in urine and aggregate exposure estimates derived from diet and environmental measurements for pesticides and phthalates using the algorithms and approaches specified in the Draft Protocol for Measuring Children's Non-Occupational Exposure to Pesticides by all Relevant Pathways.
6. Evaluate and apportion exposure pathways for pesticides and phthalates.
7. Collect data for selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (brominated flame retardants) and perfluorinated chemicals (PFOS and PFOA) in the diet and in environmental samples collected in the residences to assess spatial and temporal variability and the potential for children's exposure.
8. Evaluate the utility of the draft standardized protocol for performing exposure assessments for young children.
9. Develop critical inputs for the human exposure models (SHEDS, CARES, Lifeline, Calendex, and others).
10. Collect preliminary data on environmental concentrations of selected metals found in the outdoor residential environment.
11. Evaluate the utility of standardized data collection methods for future large scale studies.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) is conducting a study of young children's exposures to chemicals in the home. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is partnering with the EPA to enhance an existing EPA study of children's exposure to pesticides in residences by including additional measurements and data collection to evaluate the potential exposures of very young children to three classes of organic compounds that may be found in residences. The study, which will start in the fall of 2004, is a two-year longitudinal study in Jacksonville, Florida originally designed to measure the aggregate exposures for children 3 months to 3 years of age to current use indoor residential pesticides (primarily pyrethroids). Approximately 60 infants/toddlers will be enrolled in the study in two cohorts: (1) infants recruited into the study soon after birth, and, (2) children recruited into the study at approximately one year of age. Participant recruitment will be performed at Duval County Health Department clinics, local hospitals, and other child-friendly locations in the County. The study involves up to six visits during the two-year period during which measurements will be performed for all pathways and routes of exposure. Urine samples will be collected and analyzed for pesticide and phthalate metabolites by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another partner in the study.
The ACC-funded enhancement to the study will allow the EPA to perform aggregate exposure estimates for the children in the existing study to a suite of phthalates. The exposures will be estimated using measurements of phthalates for all pathways and routes of exposure. Results of aggregate exposure estimates from the environmental and diet measurements will be compared to biomarker data from urine samples collected from the study participants. Additionally, using resources from the ACC, measurements will be made to evaluate the potential exposures of the children in the study to selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and to selected perfluorinated compounds in their residences. Although aggregate exposure estimates will not be performed for these two classes of compounds, data in the study will provide information on the potential magnitude of exposure and the temporal and spatial variability.
This study will provide critically needed data on very young children's exposures to chemicals in their homes. Data will be used to gain a better understanding of the factors affecting children's exposures, the impact of children's age and activities on their exposures, the important routes and pathways of exposures, and the use of biomarkers as indicators of exposure for pesticides and phthalates.
Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect Agency policy.