Issue 3, 2009
From the journal:

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Air pollution exposure assessment methods utilized in epidemiological studies

Bin Zou,*ab   J. Gaines Wilson,c   F. Benjamin Zhanbd  and  Yongnian Zenga  

* Corresponding authors

a Central South University, School of Info-Physics and Geomatics Engineering, Changsha, Hunan, China
E-mail: B.ZOU@txstate.edu, kyzoubin@yahoo.com.cn
Fax: +1 512-245-8353
Tel: +1 512-665-1781

b Texas State University, Texas Center for Geographic Information Science, Department of Geography, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, USA
E-mail: Zhan@txstate.edu

c University of Texas at Brownsville, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Brownsville, TX, USA
E-mail: jeff.wilson@utb.edu

d Wuhan University, School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Abstract

The assessment of personal exposure to air pollution is a critical component of epidemiological studies associating air pollution and health effects. This paper critically reviewed 157 studies over 29 years that utilized one of five categories of exposure methods (proximity, air dispersion, hybrid, human inhalation, and biomarkers). Proximity models were found to be a questionable technique as they assume that closer proximity equates to greater exposure. Inhalation models and biomarker estimates were the most effective in assessing personal exposure, but are often cost prohibitive for large study populations. This review suggests that: (i) factors such as uncertainty, validity, data availability, and transferability related to exposure assessment methods should be considered when selecting a model; and (ii) although an entirely discreet new class of approach is not necessary, significant progress could be made through the development of a ‘hybrid’ model utilizing the strengths of several existing methods. Future work should systematically evaluate the performance of hybrid models compared to other individual exposure assessment methods utilizing geospatial information technologies (e.g. geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS)) to more robustly refine estimates of ambient exposure and quantify the linkages and differences between outdoor, indoor and personal exposure estimates.

Graphical abstract: Air pollution exposure assessment methods utilized in epidemiological studies

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B813889C
Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
11 Aug 2008
Accepted
09 Jan 2009
First published
13 Feb 2009

J. Environ. Monit., 2009,11, 475-490

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Air pollution exposure assessment methods utilized in epidemiological studies

B. Zou, J. G. Wilson, F. B. Zhan and Y. Zeng, J. Environ. Monit., 2009, 11, 475 DOI: 10.1039/B813889C

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