Measured indoor exposure levels

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Utilization

This group of information includes the measured indoor exposure levels, that have been produced by previous research studies. The simplest way of utilizing this kind of information is to use the concentration information directly with the simplest possible exposure model, where you just multiply the concentration with the time spent in the indoor environment and with the breathing rate or volume.

Limitations

The main limitation on using the measured indoor exposure levels as such for calculating exposure levels with the method described above is the fact that the measured concentration describes the true situation only for the measured space and time.

Linked databases with measured indoor exposure levels

Available databases in Internet including information on indoor exposure/concentration levels.

Exposure concentration database
Short description

The purpose of the Concentration Database (ConcDb) is to gather data from published personal exposure concentration studies and provide a simple way to search through the results of the studies. Selection criteria for the studies included is that the study design has to be representative in the city or national level. At least the following comprehensive studies are included: EXPOLIS, SHIELDS, NHANES, GerES, TEAM, NHEXAS and MACBETH. For practical reasons results are usually presented as statistical values (mean, percentiles etc.), but in addition this database also provides the measured concentrations of EXPOLIS study as individual samples.

At the moment this database provides following information for each case:

  • Agent of the study
  • Target area of the study (in country and/or city level)
  • Type of concentrations environment
  • Describes the microenvironment or medium where concentrations have been measured (home indoor/outdoor, personal, work, drinking water, indoor dust, human, soil, beverage, food, in-vehicle, school)
  • Description of the data
  • Description of the study
  • Reference of the study
  • Some relevant additional information

The user can define the search according to the specific compound, target country and few larger studies by their name.

Regional coverage
Indoor Air Pollution Database in China
Short description

The database contains data abstracted from more than 110 published papers with measurements of air quality in Chinese households, mostly from the Chinese literature previous to 1995. It is organized by pollutant (Particulates, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Benzo[a]pyrene); fuel type (Coal & Mixed, Gas, Biomass); and location (Urban, Rural). Data can be retrieved as excel files, or as pdf publication.

Regional coverage
Indoor Air Pollution and Exposure Database
Short description

Measured household indoor air pollution levels in about 250 communities in developing countries extracted from 71 studies published between 1968 and 2002. This working database is structured so that the independent interviewer can extract and analyze findings within and across studies. Database is in Access format, and must be downloaded to your own computer.

Regional coverage
HEDS
Short description

NHEXAS Phase I consists of three demonstration/scoping studies using probability-based sampling designs. Volunteer participants were randomly selected from several areas of the U.S. These studies included personal exposure, residential concentration, and biomarker measurements. The Arizona study was conducted in Arizona, and measured metals, pesticides, and VOCs. The Maryland study was conducted in Maryland, and measured metals, pesticides, and PAHs. The Region 5 study was conducted in EPA's Region 5 (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota), and measured metals and VOCs. Researchers worked with the participants to measure the level of chemicals in the air they breathed; in foods and beverages they consumed, including drinking water; in the soil and dust around their homes; and in their blood and urine. Participants completed questionnaires to help identify possible sources of chemical exposure. Sample collection occurred between 1995 and 1997.

Regional coverage