Exposure Assessment
The IOM Human Exposure research programme covers both occupational and non-occupational environments, including exposure in the home and wider environment, and different routes of exposures: inhalation, dermal and (inadvertent) ingestion exposure. We are actively developing tools for modelling and measuring exposure and carry out exposure assessment studies using measurement and modelling tools. These exposure assessment studies are carried out for a various reasons, such as epidemiological studies, regulatory risk assessment (eg REACH) and health impact assessment. We also investigate exposure to determine the effectiveness of risk management measures. Our research covers chemical and physical agents, including fibres, particulates, nanomaterials, pesticides, chemicals, non-ionising radiation (EMF's) and noise.
IOM's human exposure scientists work on multidisciplinary projects across the IOM and collaborate with scientists in other organisations in the UK, Europe and the US.
We are assisting both regulatory agencies and industry in developing tools for assessing exposure to chemical agents under REACH. For example, the IOM is part of an European collaboration, lead by TNO in the Netherlands, to develop an advanced tool for estimating occupational exposure, particularly for the exposure assessments for REACH (Advanced REACH Tool – ART, http://www.advancedreachtool.com/). Currently, ART only covers inhalation exposure, but we are also developing tools for estimating dermal and inadvertent ingestion exposure. In addition to the development of models, we are also actively assisting industry in preparing Chemical Safety Reports for REACH by carrying out exposure assessment studies and developing exposure scenarios.
The IOM Exposure Section is actively involved in a number of national and international epidemiological studies. For example, we are responsible for estimating occupational exposure to chemicals for a large international study of brain cancers, funded by National Institute of Health (NIH), which is lead by CREAL in Barcelona, Spain and in a study of the possible cancer risks associated with exposure to tetrafouroethylene (TFE) in a study lead by The Clinica del Lavoro in Milan. We also play an important role in the projects aimed at estimating the cancer burden of occupational exposure in Great Britain and the European Union, by providing current and past exposure estimates for the main carcinogens.
The IOM is recognized world-wide as a leading centre of expertise in the field of risk assessment for nanotechnology. IOM’s exposure assessment scientists are involved several EU funded research programmes in this area. We are currently coordinating a project funded through the EU 7th Framework Programme, to develop exposure scenarios for nanotechnology (NANEX - http://www.nanex-project.eu/). Although, only a relatively short project, we anticipate that this work will form the basis for a research programme, specifically focussed on exposure assessment and mitigation.
In recent years, the IOM has become very active in estimating exposure to particulates and chemicals in the home environment. We recently conducted a study of nicotine in the homes in Nothern Ireland, to determine if the ban on smoking in public and workplaces lead to a change in the exposure levels at home of non-smokers living with smokers. We have also undertaken studies, in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, to assess the impact of the smoking ban on the air quality and the health of bar workers and customers in pubs in Scotland, England and Wales. We are part of the Scottish Centre for Indoor Air, which is focussed on research on the potential health risks form indoor air pollution.
Below you will find a list of some of our current and recently completed projects;
| Study | Sponsor |
|---|---|
| Development of the Advanced REACH Tool (ART) | Regulators (UK, Netherlands, France) |
| Development of tool for estimating inadvertent ingestion exposure | Health & Safety Executive (UK) |
| Occupational exposure to EMF and chemicals and risk of brain cancer | National Institute of Health (US) |
| Development of the exposure databases for industry (CEMAS, MANGANEX, etc) | Industry |
| BHETSE – study of the health of bar workers following the smoking ban in Scotland | Scottish Government |
| ENGLISH Smoking ban | DoH (UK) |
| Northern Ireland study of exposure to nicotine and airborne particles from cigarettes in the home | HPA in Northern Ireland |
| IAPAH study of indoor particle exposure from biomass burning | Irish EPA |
| NANEX exposure scenarios for nanoparticle exposure | EU |
| SHEcan – a socioeconomic, health and economic assessment for 25 occupational carcinogens | EU |
| Dermal exposure to heavy fuel oils | Industry |