GUIDELINES FOR EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

0,63
MB

176
stron

6048
ID UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

1998
rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION . 13

1.1. Intended Audience . 13

1.2. Purpose and Scope of the Guidelines . 14

1.3. Organization of the Guidelines . 15

2. GENERAL CONCEPTS IN EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 16

2.1. Concepts of Exposure, Intake, Uptake, and Dose . 18

2.1.1. Exposure . 19

2.1.2. Applied Dose and Potential Dose 20

2.1.3. Internal Dose 22

2.1.4. Exposure and Dose Relationships 23

2.1.4.1. Calculating Potential Dose for Intake Processes . 25

2.1.4.2. Calculating Internal Dose for Uptake Processes . 30

2.1.4.3. Calculating Internal Dose for Intake Processes . 35

2.1.5. Summary of Exposure and Dose Terms With Example Units 36

2.2. Approaches to Quantification of Exposure 39

2.2.1. Measurement of Exposure at the Point-of-Contact . 40

2.2.2. Estimates of Exposure from Scenario Evaluation . 41

2.2.3. Exposure Estimation by Reconstruction of Internal Dose 43

2.3. Relationships of Exposure and Dose to Risk . 44

2.3.1. Individual Risk . 45

2.3.2. Population Risk . 49

2.3.3. Risk Descriptors 52

3. PLANNING AN EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT . 54

3.1. Purpose of the Exposure Assessment . 55

3.1.1. Using Exposure Assessments in Risk Assessment . 55

3.1.2. Using Exposure Assessments for Status and Trends 58

3.1.3. Using Exposure Assessments in Epidemiologic Studies 58

3.2. Scope of the Assessment . 59

3.3. Level of Detail of the Assessment . 60

3.4. Determining the Approach for the Exposure Assessment . 60

3.5. Establishing the Exposure Assessment Plan . 62

3.5.1. Planning an Exposure Assessment as Part of a Risk Assessment 62

3.5.2. Establishing the Sampling Strategy . 64

3.5.2.1. Data Quality Objectives 65

3.5.2.2. Sampling Plan 66

3.5.2.3. Quality Assurance Samples . 69

3.5.2.4. Background Level . 70

3.5.2.5. Quality Assurance and Quality Control 70

3.5.2.6. Quality Assurance and Quality Control for

Previously Generated Data . 71

3.5.2.7. Selection and Validation of Analytical Methods . 71

3.5.3. Establishing the Modeling Strategy 72

3.5.3.1. Setting the Modeling Study Objectives 72

3.5.3.2. Characterization and Model Selection . 72

3.5.3.3. Obtaining and Installing the Computer Code . 74

3.5.3.4. Calibrating and Running the Model 75

3.5.3.5. Model Validation 75

3.5.4. Planning an Exposure Assessment to Assess Past Exposures 76

4. GATHERING AND DEVELOPING DATA FOR EXPOSURE ASSESSMENTS 78

4.1. Measurement Data for Point-of-Contact Assessments . 78

4.2. Obtaining Chemical Concentration Information . 79

4.2.1. Concentration Measurements in Environmental Media 85

4.2.2. Use of Models for Concentration Estimation 87

4.2.3. Selection of Models for Environmental Concentrations 88

4.3. Estimating Duration of Contact . 89

4.3.1. Observation and Survey Data 90

4.3.2. Developing Other Estimates of Duration of Contact 92

4.4. Obtaining Data on Body Burden or Biomarkers . 93

4.5. Obtaining Data for Pharmacokinetic Relationships . 94

4.6. Obtaining Data on Intake and Uptake . 95

5. USING DATA TO DETERMINE OR ESTIMATE EXPOSURE AND DOSE 96

5.1. Use of Data in Making Inferences for Exposure Assessments 96

5.1.1. Relevance of Data for the Intended Exposure Assessment 97

5.1.2. Adequacy of Data for the Intended Assessment . 98

5.1.2.1. Evaluation of Analytical Methods . 99

5.1.2.2. Evaluation of Analytical Data Reports 99

5.1.2.2.1. Evaluation of Censored Data Sets 100

5.1.2.2.2. Blanks and Recovery 103

5.1.3. Combining Measurement Data Sets from Various Studies . 104

5.1.4. Combining Measurement Data and Modeling Results 104

5.2. Dealing with Data Gaps 105

5.3. Calculating Exposure and Dose 107

5.3.1. Short-Term Versus Long-Term Data for Population Exposures . 107

5.3.2. Using Point-of-Contact Data to Calculate Exposure and Dose . 108

5.3.3. The Role of Exposure Scenarios in Exposure Assessment . 109

5.3.3.1. Scenarios as a Means to Quantify Exposure and Dose 111

5.3.3.2. Exposure Scenarios and Exposure Estimators as Input to Risk Descriptors . 113

5.3.3.3. Exposure Scenarios as a Tool for Option Evaluation . 113

5.3.4. General Methods for Estimating Exposure and Dose 114

5.3.4.1. Preliminary Evaluation and Bounding Estimates . 115

5.3.4.2. Refining the Estimates of Exposure and Dose . 117

5.3.5. Using Estimates for Developing Descriptors 119

5.3.5.1. Individual Exposure, Dose, and Risk 119

5.3.5.2. Population Exposure, Dose, and Risk . 129

6. ASSESSING UNCERTAINTY 134

6.1. Role of Uncertainty Analysis in Exposure Assessment . 134

6.2. Types of Uncertainty 136

6.2.1. Scenario Uncertainty 137

6.2.2. Parameter Uncertainty . 138

6.2.3. Model Uncertainty 142

6.3. Variability Within a Population Versus Uncertainty in the Estimate . 144

7. PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF THE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT 146

7.1. Communicating the Results of the Assessment 146

7.1.1. Exposure Characterization . 146

7.1.2. Risk Characterization 148

7.1.2.1. Integration of Hazard Identification, Dose-Response, and Exposure Assessments . 149

7.1.2.2. Quality of the Assessment and Degree of Confidence 150

7.1.2.3. Descriptors of Risk . 151

7.1.2.4. Communicating Results of a Risk Assessment to the Risk Manager 151

7.1.3. Establishing the Communication Strategy . 152

7.2. Format for Exposure Assessment Reports . 153

7.3. Reviewing Exposure Assessments 153

8. GLOSSARY OF TERMS . 157

9. REFERENCES 166