title: [Environmental characterization and exposure evaluation].
abstract: As certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure assessment represents a key stage in epidemiological studies that aim to evaluate health risks linked to contaminated sites. The assessment procedure is contingent on the availability of data relating to environmental and food compartments and on any other available scientific evidence, such as data on toxicity and human biomonitoring. This chapter outlines the procedure that should be adopted in order to conduct an accurate exposure assessment and presents three case studies involving different types of contaminated sites where this approach was applied.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beccaloni
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Falleni
authors.forename: Augusta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccardi
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaini
authors.forename: Maria Eleonora
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Soggiu
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento ambiente e connessa prevenzione primaria, Istituto superiore di sanità, Roma. mario.carere@iss.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carere
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls