| Title: | Approaches to environmental exposure assessment in children |
| Author(s): | Weaver VM; Buckley TJ; Groopman JD; |
| Address: | "Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. vweaver@jhsph.edu" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0091-6765 (Print) 0091-6765 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "An improved understanding of the contribution made by environmental exposures to disease burden in children is essential, given current increasing rates of childhood illnesses such asthma and cancer. Children must be routinely included in environmental research. Exposure assessment, both external (e.g., air, water) and internal dose (e.g., biomarkers), is an integral component of such research. Biomarker measurement has some advantages that are unique in children. These include assessment of potentially increased absorption because of behaviors that differ from adults (i.e., hand-to-mouth activity); metabolite measurement, which can help identify age-related susceptibility differences; and improved assessment of dermal exposure, an important exposure route in children. Environmental exposure assessment in children will require adaption of techniques that are currently applied in adult studies as well as development of tools and validation of strategies that are unique for children. Designs that focus on parent-child study units provide adult comparison data and allow the parent to assist with more complex study designs. Use of equipment that is sized appropriately for children, such as small air pumps and badge monitors, is also important. When biomarkers are used, biologic specimens that can be obtained noninvasively are preferable. Although the current need is primarily for small focused studies to address specific questions and optimize research tools, the future will require establishment of large prospective cohorts. Urban children are an important study cohort because of relatively high morbidity observed in the urban environment. Finally, examples of completed or possible future studies utilizing these techniques are discussed for specific exposures such as benzene, environmental tobacco smoke, aflatoxin, volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons" |
| Keywords: | Age Factors *Biomarkers Child Child Behavior *Child Welfare Cotinine/urine Environmental Exposure/*analysis Environmental Health Environmental Monitoring/instrumentation/*methods Environmental Pollutants/*analysis Humans Research Design Risk Assessment Sp; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWeaver, V M Buckley, T J Groopman, J D eng P01 ES06052/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ P30 ES03819/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ R29 ES07780-02/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review 1998/07/01 Environ Health Perspect. 1998 Jun; 106 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):827-32. doi: 10.1289/ehp.98106827" |
