ORD Scientists Contribute to Completion of a Comprehensive Interagency Document
Dr. Haluk Özkaynak, a senior scientist at EPA ORD, who has served as the co-chair of the planned interagency National Children's Study (NCS) Chemical Exposure Workgroup, announced the public release of an important document, "A White Paper on Measurement and Analysis of Exposures to Environmental Pollutants and Biological Agents during the National Children's Study". The Chemical Exposure Workgroup included over fifteen experts representing various environmental, exposure and biomonitoring research areas. Scientists from EPA, CDC, academic and private institutions served on this Workgroup over the past three years.
The Chemical Exposure Workgroup was charged with examining various means of assessing environmental exposures to children that support investigation of a variety of health effects associated with early life and childhood exposures to chemical and biological agents of concern. The White Paper is a unique compilation and evaluation of relevant information that pertain to available methods for measurement of exposures and concentrations of many types of chemicals in the environment and biological media. In addition, the document discusses survey collection instruments for use in the NCS and exposure assessment implications for the design and implementation of the NCS. The White Paper has been released publically by the NCS, and can be obtained from the National Children's Study web site: http://nationalchildrensstudy.gov/research/methods_studies.