Eac. Hubal et al., Children's exposure assessment: A review of factors influencing children'sexposure, and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure, ENVIR H PER, 108(6), 2000, pp. 475-486
We review the factors influencing children's exposure to environmental cont
aminants and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure. C
hildren's activity pattern data requirements are demonstrated in the contex
t 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 co
ntaminants. As a result, regulators use a series of default assumptions and
exposure factors when conducting exposure assessments. Data to reduce unce
rtainty in the assumptions and exposure estimates are needed to ensure chem
icals are regulated appropriately to protect children's health. To improve
the database, advancement in the following general areas of research is req
uired: identification of appropriate age/developmental benchmarks For categ
orizing children in exposure assessment; development and improvement of met
hods for monitoring children's exposures and activities; collection of acti
vity pattern data for children (especially young children) required to asse
ss exposure by all routes; collection of data on concentrations of environm
ental contaminants, biomarkers, and transfer coefficients that can be used
as inputs to aggregate exposure models.