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Design and sampling methodology for a large study of preschool children's aggregate exposures to persistent organic pollutants in their everyday environments

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 14, pages 260–274 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Young children, because of their immaturity and their rapid development compared to adults, are considered to be more susceptible to the health effects of environmental pollutants. They are also more likely to be exposed to these pollutants, because of their continual exploration of their environments with all their senses. Although there has been increased emphasis in recent years on exposure research aimed at this specific susceptible population, there are still large gaps in the available data, especially in the area of chronic, low-level exposures of children in their home and school environments. A research program on preschool children's exposures was established in 1996 at the USEPA National Exposure Research Laboratory. The emphasis of this program is on children's aggregate exposures to common contaminants in their everyday environments, from multiple media, through all routes of exposure. The current research project, “Children's Total Exposure to Persistent Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants,” (CTEPP), is a pilot-scale study of the exposures of 257 children, ages 1½–5 years, and their primary adult caregivers to contaminants in their everyday surroundings. The contaminants of interest include several pesticides, phenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phthalate esters. Field recruitment and data collection began in February 2000 in North Carolina and were completed in November 2001 in Ohio. This paper describes the design strategy, survey sampling, recruiting, and field methods for the CTEPP study.

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Acknowledgements

Many persons contributed to the design and field activities of CTEPP, including the individuals mentioned specifically below. For their contributions to the recruitment and field activities, we thank Suzanne Anderson, Carey Aselage, Suzanne Benny, Chad Book, Tori Branch, Brigette Brevard, Lisa Bryant, Martha Chapman, John Cashwell, Fred Crane, Carla Dagnino, Lauren DiBiase, Josh Finegold, Stephanie Gray, LaTisha Griffin, Sherry Hubbard, Robyn Imm, Leslie Lantz, Donna Magbag, Greg McDevitt, James McDonell, Frances Patterson, Jan Satola, Eiko Weller, Leslie Wilson, and Susan Winnard. For their insightful suggestions on the design of the study, we thank Gary Evans, Robert Lewis, Thomas McCurdy, Elaine Cohen Hubal, Maurice Berry, Jim Quackenboss, Elizabeth Betz, and Carvin Stevens. For their valuable comments on the study design, we thank Maria Morandi, Ross Leidy, and Natalie Freeman. Additionally, we thank Robert Lordo for his helpful review and comments on survey sampling.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development funded and managed the research described here under Contract #68–D99–011 to Battelle. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Battelle Memorial Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Nancy K Wilson & Christopher Lyu

  2. Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Jane C Chuang, Ronaldo Iachan & Sydney M Gordon

  3. National Exposure Research Laboratory, USEPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Marsha K Morgan, Halûk Özkaynak & Linda S Sheldon

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  1. Nancy K Wilson
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Wilson, N., Chuang, J., Iachan, R. et al. Design and sampling methodology for a large study of preschool children's aggregate exposures to persistent organic pollutants in their everyday environments. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 14, 260–274 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500326

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