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Human Exposure to Metals, Pesticides, VOCs, and PAHs Along the U.S.-Mexico Border in Arizona

EPA Grant Number: U915924
Title: Human Exposure to Metals, Pesticides, VOCs, and PAHs Along the U.S.-Mexico Border in Arizona
Investigators: Rogan, Seamus P.
Institution: University of Arizona
EPA Project Officer: Cobbs, Gladys M.
Project Period: January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2004
Project Amount: $93,093
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2001)
Research Category: Fellowship - Public Health Sciences , Health Effects , Academic Fellowships

Description:

Objective:

The National Human Exposure Assessment Survey in Arizona (NHEXAS AZ) was sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and investigated total human exposure (multimedia, multipathway) to metals, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a population-based probability survey of the noninstitutionalized population of Arizona. The Arizona Border Survey (Border AZ) implemented a similar study design on a subset of Arizona's population residing within 40 km of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Children's Exposure to Pesticides Survey (CPS) also was sponsored by the U.S. EPA and investigated pesticide exposure in children under age 6 residing in an intensively farmed, largely Hispanic portion of Arizona. The objective of this research project is to generate population subgroup-specific exposure models based on the data collected in the NHEXAS AZ and Border AZ.

Approach:

Population subgroups will include children, the elderly, racial and ethnic minorities, and the poor. These exposure models will be based on the extensive time activity and baseline questionnaire data that were collected with environmental and biological samples. Analyses of the variability in exposures for select subpopulations will be facilitated by the use of a geographic information system (GIS). Exposures for populations within the vicinity of toxic release inventory sites, urban landfills, or within a certain buffer distance from select major arterial roadways will be compared to "control" populations. These control populations consist of households sampled in the NHEXAS AZ and Border AZ outside of these buffer zones. I will apply these models to the CPS population to model individual child and other household member exposures. In the short term, my research project will consider how the statistical treatment of data below the analytical method detection limit affects aggregate and cumulative exposure assessment. I also will explore the relative strengths and weaknesses of incorporating GIS in exposure assessment; survey-population selection, recruitment, and tracking; data analysis; and risk communication. These analyses will inform statistical modeling of population subgroup variability in exposure to metals (Pb and As), pesticides (chlorpyrifos and malathion), and VOCs (benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene) in the NHEXAS AZ and Border AZ. Subpopulation-specific pesticide exposure models generated using the NHEXAS AZ and Border AZ data may then be validated using CPS data.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, National Human Exposure Assessment Survey in Arizona, NHEXAS AZ, Arizona Border Survey, Border AZ, Children's Exposure to Pesticides Survey, CPS , ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, US Mexico Boarder, genetic susceptability, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Epidemiology, Children's Health, State, biomarkers, Arizona (AZ), environmental hazard exposures, neurodevelopmental toxicity, inhalation, outreach material, assessment of exposure, human health risk, toxics, risk communication workshops, sensitive populations, air pollution, biological markers, children, metals, pesticides, residential populations, exposure, PAH, VOCs, children's vulnerablity, neurobehavioral effects, dose response model, human exposure
Relevant Websites:

2004 STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference Poster (PDF, 1p., 1.08MB, about PDF)

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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