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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Onyemaechi Nweke, MPH1, Tracey J. Woodruff2, Rachel A. Morello-Frosch, PhD, MPH3, Jane C. Caldwell, PhD4, and Daniel A. Axelrad2. (1) Office of Policy, Economics and Innovations/National Center for Environmental Economics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC 1809, Washington, DC 20460, 202-2606093, nweke.onyemaechi@epa.gov, (2) Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, US Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne St, MC SPE-1, San Francisco, CA 94105, (3) Center for Environmental Studies and Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Brown University, 135 Angell Street, Box 135, Providence, RI 02912, (4) Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mail drop 52, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
There is increasing evidence that children are more sensitive than adults to exposure to environmental pollutants because of fundamental differences in their physiology, metabolism, absorption and exposure patterns. However, there is often no specific toxicological information to account for potential increased susceptibility of children in risk assessments. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 mandates applying a default "child" 10x safety factor for food use pesticides to account for this lack of data. Adopting a similar approach, this study identifies Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) exceeding "adjusted reference concentrations" (adjusted RfC) to which the default 10x "child safety factor" has been applied and subsequently, the potential risk of adverse health effects for exposed children.
Long-term average concentration estimates of 36 HAPs per census tract were compared to their adjusted RfCs. Census tracts with HAP concentrations exceeding the adjusted RfCs were identified as areas of potential concern for adverse health effects in children. The HAPs were ranked according to the total number of children resident in areas with exceedances. Eight HAPs – Acetaldehyde, Acrolein, Carbon tetrachloride, Chromium VI, Diesel Particulate Matter, Formaldehyde, Manganese and Nickel - were identified as priorities using this criterion. A qualitative assessment of the available developmental toxicity data on these selected HAPs was conducted. Our results suggest a significant number of children reside in areas of concern for adverse health effects. For the most widespread HAPs, there is a paucity of developmental toxicity data. More research is required to improve the risk assessment process by reducing the data gaps.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants are expected to
Keywords: Children's Health, Hazardous Air Pollutants
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.