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Identification of Time-integrated Sampling and Measurement Techniques to Support Human
Exposure Studies
Foreword(前言)
The mission of the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) is to provide scientific understanding, information, and assessment tools that will quantify and reduce the uncertainty in EPA’s exposure and risk assessments for environmental stressors. These stressors include chemicals, biologicals, radiation, and changes in climate, land use, and water use. The Laboratory’s primary function is to measure, characterize, and predict human and ecological exposure to pollutants. Exposureassessments are integral elements in the risk assessment process used to identify populations and ecological resources at risk. The EPA relies increasingly on the results of quantitative risk assessments to support regulations, particularly of chemicals in the environment. In addition, decisions on research priorities are influenced increasingly by comparative risk assessment analysis. The utility of the risk-based approach, however, depends on accurate exposure information. Thus, the mission of NERL is to enhance the Agency’s capability for evaluating exposure of both humans and ecosystems from a holistic perspective.
The National Exposure Research Laboratory focuses on four major research areas: predictiveexposure modeling, exposure assessment, monitoring methods, and environmental characterization. Underlying the entire research and technical support program of the NERL is its continuing development of state-of-the-art modeling, monitoring, and quality assurance methods to assure the conduct of defensible exposure assessments with known certainty. The research program supports its traditional clients – Regional Offices, Regulatory Program Offices, ORD Offices, and Research Committees – and ORD’s Core Research Program in the areas of health risk assessment, ecological risk assessment, and risk reduction.
Gary J. Foley
Director National Exposure Research Laboratory
