Policy Interpretation Network on Children’s Health and

1,03
MB Environment

175
stron

3872
ID Directorate-General for the Environment, European Commission

2005
rok

INDEX

1. Introduction 5

1.1 What is PINCHE? 5

1.2 Objectives of PINCHE 5

1.3 Why children? 6

1.4 Themes, compounds, exposures and regions 6

1.4.1 Themes 6

1.4.2 The compounds 7

1.4.3 Studied exposures 9

1.4.4 The regions 9

1.5 Policy-science Interface 10

2. Methodology 11

2.1 Structure of the project 11

2.2 Literature collection 11

2.2.1 Collecting EU studies 11

2.2.2 PINCHE database 12

2.2.3 Reviews from environment and health organisations 14

2.2.4 Additional literature 14

2.3 Evaluation of literature 14

2.4 Interpretation Framework 15

2.5 Policy recommendations 15

3. Exposure Assessment 16

3.1 Exposure assessment 16

3.2 Components of exposure 16

3.3 Exposure to air pollutants 17

3.4 Time-activity patterns 18

3.5 Population of children in Europe 19

3.6 Other issues 22

3.7 Exposure assessment using biomarkers of exposure 22

3.8 Uncertainties in exposure 22

3.9 Theoretical framework for dealing with uncertainties 23

4. Air pollution 26

4.1 Outdoor air pollution 26

4.1.1. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 27

4.1.2. Particulate matter (PM) 29

4.1.3. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) 32

4.1.4. Ozone (O3) 33

4.2 Formaldehyde 37

4.3 Chlorination by-products 40

4.4 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 44

4.5 Cleaning products 48

4.6 Biocontaminants 51

4.6.1 Endotoxins 51

4.6.2 Allergens 52

4.6.3 Moulds 54

4.7 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) 57

4.8 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 59

4.9 Asbestos 63

4 PINCHE Report Exposure

5. Neurotoxicants 64

5.1 Mercury 64

5.2 Lead 68

5.3 Arsenic 72

5.4 Cadmium 76

5.5 Manganese 79

5.6 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Dioxins 81

5.7 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) 86

5.8 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 86

5.9 Brominated Flame Retardants 86

5.10 Pesticides 89

6. Noise 92

6.1 Classroom noise 92

6.2 Transportation noise 94

6.3 Sound levels in discotheques and leisure facilities 95

6.4 Sound levels from personal audio player 96

6.5 Noise from toys 97

6.6 Impulse noise from firecrackers 98

6.7 Noise in neonatal intensive care units 98

7. Carcinogens 101

7.1 Arsenic 101

7.2 Asbestos 101

7.3 Benzene 104

7.4 Beryllium 107

7.5 Cadmium 109

7.6 Chromium 109

7.7 Ethylene Oxide 111

7.8 Nickel 113

7.9 Solar and UV Radiation 115

7.10 2,3,7,8 Tetra chloro dibenzo-p-dioxin 117

7.11 Vinyl Chloride 117

7.12 Coal Tar Pitches 119

7.13 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) 121

7.14 Radon 121

7.15 Ionising Radiation 125

7.16 Acrylamide 129

7.17 Benzo (a)pyrene 131

7.18 1,3-Butadiene 131

7.19 Formaldehyde 134

7.20 N-nitrosodmiethylamine and n-nitrosodiethylamine 134

7.21 Tetrachloroethylene 138

7.22 Trichloroethylene 140

7.23 Diesel engine exhaust 142

7.24 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 146

7.25 Pesticides 146

8. Discussion and conclusions 147

8.1 Discussion on methods used 147

8.2 Collection of information 147

8.3 Answering the questions of the Interpretation Framework 149

Annexes