The Office of Research and Development (ORD) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) in the early 1990's. It was a population-based pilot study of the exposure of over 500 people in three areas of the U.S. to metals, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and other toxic chemicals. Measurements were made of the air people breathed, the foods and beverages they consumed, and the soil and dust in/near their home. Chemicals in their blood and urine were measured. The participants also completed questionnaires to help identify possible sources of exposures and to characterize activities that might contribute to exposure. To this date, NHEXAS remains the largest multimedia, multipathway, multichemical study of its kind. Key goals included evaluating the feasibility of conducting such a large study, documenting the population distribution of exposure to the chemicals examined, understanding the factors that contribute to high exposures, and improving the accuracy of exposure models. Such a study produces a multitude of data that must be thoughtfully analyzed to realize its full potential. EPAs Science Advisory Board (SAB) recommended that EPA develop a strategy to analyze the data to ensure the optimal use of the data. Therefore, ORD developed this Strategic Plan. ORD began with a workshop at which about 70 scientific and policy experts from ORD, EPA program offices, EPA regions, other federal agencies, state health agencies, academia, and private institutions offered their suggestions on the most useful analyses of the NHEXAS pilot data. ORD used their thoughtful contributions as the basis to begin development of the Strategic Plan. The draft Plan was reviewed by the SAB, and made available to all EPA program offices and the public. This document has been revised based upon those recommendations.

"November 2000"