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OVERVIEW OF US EPA RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AIMED AT CHARACTERIZING CHILDREN'S EXPOSURES
Citation:
CohenHubal, E A. OVERVIEW OF US EPA RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AIMED AT CHARACTERIZING CHILDREN'S EXPOSURES. Presented at Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, LA, March 6-10, 2005.
Description:
Given the potential vulnerability of children to the effects of environmental exposures, understanding the relationship between children's health outcomes and environmental exposures is an important research need to reduce uncertainty in risk assessment. Over the past 8 years, significant research activities have been initiated at the US EPA to increase understanding of children's vulnerabilities and to better characterize children's exposures to chemical stressors in the environment.
Research efforts include development of models, methods, and data to quantitatively describe ways that children are exposed to environmental stressors. Current and recently completed studies include large field studies to measure children's exposures to chemicals in their homes and daycare centers as well as targeted studies to better understand the determinants of exposure. CTEPP, a study of 260 preschool-age children, has recently been completed and data are being analyzed to identify important exposure factors and pathways. A longitudinal children's study of 60 infants and toddlers is being implemented over the next couple of years to assess exposures to current-use pesticides, phthalates, and BFRs. As a result of these and other Agency initiatives, important data are being collected and assessment approaches are being developed and used to improve the scientific basis of exposure assessments for children. Despite this significant progress, there are many important gaps associated with how to effectively measure and characterize exposure for health studies and risk assessment. In this presentation, ongoing and recent US EPA initiatives aimed at evaluating children's exposures and health risks will be discussed, including issues associated with characterizing cumulative risks from exposures to multiple environmental stressors. The information and data obtained from these efforts will help identify the most important exposures for children and enable decision to prioritize environmental health related activities.
This work has been funded wholly or in part by the US EPA. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication.