Cohen Hubal E A, Sheldon L S, Burke J M, McCurdy T R, Berry M R, Rigas M L, Zartarian V G, Freeman N C
National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA.
Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Jun;108(6):475-86. doi: 10.1289/ehp.108-1638158.
We review the factors influencing children's exposure to environmental contaminants and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure. Children's activity pattern data requirements are demonstrated in the context of the algorithms used to estimate exposure by inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion. Currently, data on children's exposures and activities are insufficient to adequately assess multimedia exposures to environmental contaminants. As a result, regulators use a series of default assumptions and exposure factors when conducting exposure assessments. Data to reduce uncertainty in the assumptions and exposure estimates are needed to ensure chemicals are regulated appropriately to protect children's health. To improve the database, advancement in the following general areas of research is required: identification of appropriate age/developmental benchmarks for categorizing children in exposure assessment; development and improvement of methods for monitoring children's exposures and activities; collection of activity pattern data for children (especially young children) required to assess exposure by all routes; collection of data on concentrations of environmental contaminants, biomarkers, and transfer coefficients that can be used as inputs to aggregate exposure models.
我们回顾了影响儿童接触环境污染物的因素以及用于表征和评估这种接触的现有数据。在用于估计通过吸入、皮肤接触和摄入途径接触污染物的算法背景下，展示了儿童活动模式的数据要求。目前，关于儿童接触和活动的数据不足以充分评估通过多种媒介接触环境污染物的情况。因此，监管机构在进行接触评估时使用了一系列默认假设和接触因子。需要数据来减少假设和接触估计中的不确定性，以确保对化学品进行适当监管以保护儿童健康。为了改进数据库，需要在以下一般研究领域取得进展：确定在接触评估中对儿童进行分类的适当年龄/发育基准；开发和改进监测儿童接触和活动的方法；收集评估所有途径接触所需的儿童（尤其是幼儿）活动模式数据；收集可作为综合接触模型输入的环境污染物浓度、生物标志物和转移系数的数据。
