The Exposure Factors Handbook provides a summary of the available statistical data on various factors used in assessing human exposure. This Handbook is addressed to exposure assessors inside the Agency as well as outside, who need to obtain data on standard factors to calculate human exposure to toxic chemicals. These factors include: drinking water consumption, soil ingestion, inhalation rates, dermal factors including skin area and soil adherence factors, consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, dairy products, homegrown foods, breast milk intake, human activity factors, consumer product use, and residential characteristics. Recommended values are for the general population and also for various segments of the population who may have characteristics different from the general population. NCEA has strived to include full discussions of the issues that assessors should consider in deciding how to use these data and recommendations. The CD-ROM has word search capabilities, downloadable tables (this feature cannot be used on Macintosh computers), hypertext links to various chapters in the document, and key references. The Handbook- Summarizes data on human behaviors and characteristics which affect exposure to environmental contaminants - Recommends values to use for these factors. These recommendations are not legally binding on any EPA program and should be interpreted as suggestions which program offices or individual exposure assessors can consider and modify as needed. Most of these factors are best quantified on a site or situation-specific basis. The handbook has strived to include full discussions of the issues which assessors should consider in deciding how to use these data and recommendations. The handbook is intended to serve as a support document to EPA's Guidelines for Exposure Assessment (U.S. EPA, 1992a). The Guidelines were developed to promote consistency among the various exposure assessment activities that are carried out by the various EPA program offices. This handbook assists in this goal by providing a consistent set of exposure factors to calculate dose. Information in this handbook has been summarized from studies documented in the scientific literature and other available sources. Studies were chosen that were seen as useful and appropriate for estimating exposure factors. The handbook contains summaries of selected studies published through August 30, 1997.

Title from title screen. Shipping list no.: 99-0042-E. "February 1999"--Disc label. "EPA/600/C-99/001"--Disc label. Includes bibliographical references.

Online version of EPA's Exposure factors handbook.