Chapter 16 - Residential Exposure Assessment: An Overview

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the assessment of the potential health risks associated with exposure to chemicals such as pesticides occurring in and around the homes, combustion appliances, and outdoors. A number of studies have demonstrated that for a variety of contaminants, indoor air and other residential pathways are often a more significant source of exposure than corresponding outdoor pathways. Residential pesticide monitoring studies have included general surveys of many different pesticides and measurements of air and surface concentrations of specific pesticides after applications of termiticides, crack and crevice or baseboard treatments, total release aerosols or foggers, broadcast applications, and hand-held sprays. These studies typically demonstrate that after pesticide use, measurable but relatively low-level residues exist in homes, and that indoor exposures are often higher than outdoor exposures. Although, in most cases, such exposures are associated with negligible health risks, potential residential exposures to infants and children continue to be the subject of debate and scientific investigation. The chapter presents information on the guidance developed for residential exposure assessment methods and the relevant data sources available for key variables or factors used in performing residential exposure assessment. Given that the potential for post-application exposures largely exists because of product use in and around the home, the need to develop and validate models for prediction of multipathway, multiroute exposures and absorbed dose is evident.