Population-based exposure measurements in Arizona: a phase I field study in support of the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey.
The objective of this proposed Phase I field study is to determine the distributions of total human exposures to multimedia pollutants in the classes of metals, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This will be achieved by studying a proportion-based sample of the total population in Arizona with a nested design for the different stages of sampling. Specific objectives are: (1) to document the occurrence, distribution, and determinants of total exposures in the general population; (2) to characterize the 90th percentiles of total exposures to each pollutant; (3) to monitor geographic and temporal trends of the multimedia exposures; (4) to evaluate the different media, personal, time-activity, and geographical factors that contribute to current total exposure; (5) to evaluate biomarkers in blood and urine for the target pollutants; (6) to perform evaluations of relationships between exposure reports, environmental measurements, and biomarkers of the target pollutants; (7) to predict total exposures; and (8) to assess total exposures in minority and disadvantaged subsets of the population. The latter is particularly feasible in Arizona due to the large proportions of such population subgroups. The proportionate-based population sampling of households within blocks will occur in Stage 1; the target is 1,200 such households. They will be interviewed utilizing National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) questionnaires. In Stage 2, additional questionnaires will be completed; environmental sampling will take place in 450-900 households representatively selected from the respondents. Environmental sampling will include: metals in dust, soil, outside air, and some tap water; pesticides in dust, soil, and some tap water; total VOCs in air. In Stage 3, a subset of representative households will be reevaluated for metals, pesticides, and VOCs using methods with greater resolution and reliability; subjects in these households will be asked to complete questionnaires and provide biological samples. Follow-up temporal evaluations will be performed in a randomly selected subset of homes evaluated during this stage.
Lebowitz
M D
MD
Respiratory Sciences Center Environmental Program, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724, USA.
O'Rourke
M K
MK
Gordon
S
S
Moschandreas
D J
DJ
Buckley
T
T
Nishioka
M
M
D001130:Arizona; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012494:Sampling Studies
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008670:Metals; D010575:Pesticides