Grantee Research Project Results

Data Collection Platforms for Integrated Longitudinal Surveys of Human Exposure-Related Behavior

EPA Grant Number: R831541
Title: Data Collection Platforms for Integrated Longitudinal Surveys of Human Exposure-Related Behavior
Investigators: Whitmore, Roy , Kizakevich, Paul
Institution: Desert Research Institute
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2008
Project Amount: $4,998,513
RFA: Aggregate Exposure Assessment: Longitudinal Surveys of Human Exposure - Related Behavior (2003) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health

Objective:

We propose to investigate innovative methods for accurately collecting exposure factor data in longitudinal surveys with low participant burden for time/activity/location/exertion-level (TALE) data, dietary consumption data, and use of pesticide products, household cleaning products, and personal care products. Accurate estimates of exposures require temporally and spatially representative data regarding human activities, including the frequency and duration of contact with potential sources of pollutants. Each subjects data consists of a sequence of exposure events over a specified time period. In previous exposure studies, TALE data were acquired using diaries, recall questionnaires, and/or direct observation.

Approach:

We will develop and evaluate data collection platforms to collect time-stamped data on (1) activity patterns, (2) energy expenditure, (3) dietary consumption, and (4) use of consumer products. We will investigate innovations including voice diaries, passive microenvironment identification, wireless interfaces, intelligent prompting, and automated daily review to collect the data accurately with low participant burden. We will assemble an integrated data collection platform and test it in three phases: (1) individual volunteer homes, (2) pilot testing in four sets of homes, and (3) field testing through collection of data for 7 consecutive days in each quarter over 2 years in each of 150 homes. We will recruit an Oversight Panel of Experts and Stakeholders to help develop data requirements and provide peer review at critical decision points in the study.

Expected Results:

We will develop, test, and evaluate one or more methodologies based on emerging technologies to facilitate the collection and processing of longitudinal data from sample populations with minimal participant burden. By including leading exposure modelers on our team, the data collection platform will be designed to provide data that are responsive to the needs of existing and anticipated exposure models. Furthermore, the data will be compatible with EPAs Comprehensive Human Activity Database (CHAD) while accommodating anticipated advancements in exposure models. We plan statistical analyses of the data at different scales of resolution to explicitly show the relationships among activity patterns, exertion levels, use of consumer products, food consumption, and other factors. Through selected statistical analyses we will identify and characterize the variability and temporal correlation in activity patterns over long time periods. The results of these statistical analyses will provide guidance to modelers on how to construct realistic multi-day activity patterns using the short-term activity data currently available.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 12 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

aggregate exposure, cumulative risk, microenvironmental exposure models, exposure profiles,, Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, HUMAN HEALTH, Health Risk Assessment, Exposure, Risk Assessments, Biochemistry, Biology, Risk Assessment, long term exposure, human activities, food consumption behavior, micro environmental influences, food consumption habits, human exposure, toxicity, data collection platforms, dietary exposure, household study, exposure assessment

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.