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The Aggregate Exposure Pathway (AEP): A conceptual framework for advancing exposure science research and transforming risk assessment
Citation:
Tan, C., S. Edwards, J. Teeguarden, P. Egeghy, AND J. Leonard. The Aggregate Exposure Pathway (AEP): A conceptual framework for advancing exposure science research and transforming risk assessment. SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, November 06 - 10, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
The concept of Aggregate Exposure Pathway is developed primarily by EPA researchers. Presenting the concept at the SETAC World Congress/SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting will allow us to introduce and get buy in from scientists, assessors, regulators, and managers from academia, business, and government, as well as increase our opportunity for cross-collaboration.
Description:
Recent advances in analytical methods, biomarker discovery, cell-based assay development, computational tools, sensor/monitor, and omics technology have enabled new streams of exposure and toxicity data to be generated at higher volumes and speed. These new data offer the opportunities to better characterize the intricate interactions among chemical and non-chemical stressors, the environment, and biology in the real world. For example, untargeted analysis of environmental samples can be used to identify common mixtures of chemicals being exposed; and high throughput in vitro assays can be used to identify stressors that can perturb the same biological pathway. However, these opportunities to elucidate the complex relationship between exposures to multiple stressors and multiple health outcomes can only be realized through more efficient organization of data and knowledge emerged from new technologies and approaches. In toxicological sciences, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework is developed to organize knowledge on biologically plausible and empirically supported links between perturbations of a biological system at the molecular level and the resulting adverse outcome(s). In exposure sciences, a similar framework, aggregate exposure pathway (AEP), is proposed to organize exposure data and predictions. We envision the AEP to link the introduction of a stressor from sources, fate and transport through environmental media, patterns of external exposure, and biokinetic processes leading to target site exposures. The AEP framework deliberately includes biokinetic processes leading to an internal target site to allow for integration among AEP, AOP, and dose-response data. In this presentation, the AEP concept will be introduced along with its potential applications, such as identifying primary exposure sources, informing toxicity testing strategies, and improving risk assessment. Disclaimer: Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.
