Exposure assessment

Our Human Exposure research programme covers both occupational and non-occupational environments, including exposure in the workplace, 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 carrying out exposure assessment studies.

Exposure assessment is the process of characterizing, estimating, measuring, and modelling the magnitude, frequency, and duration of contact with an agent as well as the number and characteristics of the population exposed.

Our exposure assessments are carried out for various reasons, such as to support epidemiological studies (e.g. the Inorganic Lead Study and the Tungsten Study), for regulatory risk assessment (e.g. REACH) and health impact assessment. We also investigate exposure to determine the effectiveness of risk management measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE). We investigate chemical and physical agents, including fibres, particulates, nanomaterials, pesticides, chemicals, non-ionising radiation (EMF's), heat, and noise. We work on multidisciplinary projects across the organisation and collaborate with scientists in other organisations in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere around the world. 

Our main research Sponsors include the European Commission. EU-OSHA, UK government departments (e.g. DEFRA, Public Health England, Scottish Government) as well as other European government departments (e.g. BAuA in Germany, MOM in Singapore), professional or charitable organisations, Research Councils, as well as industry (e.g European chemical industry (CEFIC), the European oil industry (CONCAWE)), Crossrail, Statoil, Saudi Aramco, Crossrail to name only a few. 

Our projects we are involved in;

• IMPRESS project

• HBM4EU

• NanoReg2

• HEALS

• HIVE