Exposure Data

Overview

Exposure assessment is the process of estimating or measuring the magnitude, frequency and duration of to an agent and the size and characteristics of the exposed population. People can be exposed to agents and stressors in the air they breathe, food they eat, water they drink, and products they use or contact.

Flowchart with boxes indicating the processes and information important for exposure science

Data Types

Table 3-1 of the Guidelines for Human Exposure Assessment provides examples of data important for conducting exposure assessments.

Populations at Risk	Sources	Environmental Data	Exposure Routes	Exposure-to-Dose Considerations	Exposure Factors
Demographic data Local survey data Site assessments	Emission inventories Product information Land use (current, planned)	Historical environmental sampling data (e.g., air, water, soil, biota) Personal monitoring data Climatic or meteorological data Hydrogeological data Stationary air sampling data	Surveys of activity patterns used to establish exposure factors Human exposure factors data Land use (current, planned)	Toxicological Data Bioconcentration/Bioaccumulation Data Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PK) models	Activity patterns Physiological parameters

Environmental concentrations or exposures can be measured directly through media sampling or monitoring and analysis, or indirectly estimated using models. Search Expobox or visit the Exposure Setting page for data about contaminant concentration in media.

Visual	Data Measurement and Modeling
	Direct Measurement Direct (i.e., point-of-contact) methods measure the contact of the person with the chemical concentration in the exposure medium over an identified period. Learn more about direct measurement approaches.
	Biomonitoring and Reverse Dosimetry Biomonitoring data provide a useful tool for assessors to identify chemicals in the environment and human tissues and to monitor changes in exposure over time. Learn more about biomonitoring and reverse dosimetry
	Indirect Estimation Scenario evaluation is an “indirect estimation” method that relies on an exposure scenario to estimate exposures or doses. An exposure scenario is a set of facts, assumptions, and inferences about how exposure takes place. Learn more about indirect estimation.

Visual

Data Measurement and Modeling

Direct Measurement

Direct (i.e., point-of-contact) methods measure the contact of the person with the chemical concentration in the exposure medium over an identified period.

Learn more about direct measurement approaches.

Biomonitoring and Reverse Dosimetry

Biomonitoring data provide a useful tool for assessors to identify chemicals in the environment and human tissues and to monitor changes in exposure over time.

Learn more about biomonitoring and reverse dosimetry

illustration of leaking drums in red next to a house with children playing

Indirect Estimation

Scenario evaluation is an “indirect estimation” method that relies on an exposure scenario to estimate exposures or doses. An exposure scenario is a set of facts, assumptions, and inferences about how exposure takes place.

Learn more about indirect estimation.

Exposure Factors

Access the Exposure Factors Handbook (2011 edition) for data on exposure factors.