United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Abstract Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Goal 8 Annual Performance Measure 30 Significant Research Findings: The Children's Total Exposure to Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants (CTEPP) Study Scientific Young children, especially those of the preschool ages (1-5 years old), are Problem and hypothesized to have greater exposures to some pollutants than do older children Policy Issues or adults. These greater exposures may result from what these young children eat and drink, where they spend their time, and what they do in their microenvironments. Moreover, the impact of the exposures may be greater on young children because of their smaller body masses, immature body systems, and rapid physical development. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 requires that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consider children's exposures and risks in their pesticide regulatory decisions. This act requires that the EPA consider the potential increased susceptibility and vulnerability of young children to pesticide exposures from all sources including diet, dust, air, and soil. Currently, little information exists on the aggregate exposures of young children to pollutants, particularly to pesticides, in their everyday environments. The Children's Total Exposure to Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants (CTEPP) study was designed to collect high quality data on the aggregate exposure of about 260 preschool children, ages 18 months to five years, and their primary adult caregivers, to over 50 pollutants commonly found in their everyday surroundings. The study design underwent external peer-review by experts in the human exposure field in 1999. The field study was conducted in North Carolina and Ohio from July 2000 to November 2001. This is one of the largest aggregate exposure studies of young children that has been conducted in the United States. Research This study examined the aggregate exposures of about 260 preschool children and Approach their primary adult caregivers to pollutants commonly found in their everyday environments. The major objectives of this three year study were to measure the aggregate exposures of preschool children to a suite of persistent and non- persistent organic pollutants commonly found in their everyday environments, identify important sources (media) and routes of exposure, and formulate the important hypotheses to be tested in future research. Participants were recruited randomly from selected homes and day care centers in six North Carolina and six ------- Ohio counties. Sample and data collection were performed over a 48-hr period at the children's homes and/or day care centers. Samples collected included diet, water, air, urine, dust, soil, and surface wipes. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for over 50 pollutants including pesticides, phthalate esters, phenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Approximately 20% of the children were videotaped for two hours to better understand the key factors influencing children's exposures to pesticides. Aggregate exposures will be estimated for the preschool children using the results from the environmental and biological sampling, time-activity diaries, and questionnaires. The validated field and analytical data will be made publically available through the Human Exposure Database System (http ://www. epa. gov/heds/.) Results and The results of this study will provide a better understanding of children's Impact aggregate exposures to persistent and non-persistent organic pollutants in their everyday environments. Specifically, the results of this study will be used to: improve knowledge of the environmental sources and routes that are most important in young children's exposures, improve approaches for estimating children's exposures, provide a scientifically robust database on young children's exposure and exposure factors. provide important data inputs for the development and evaluation of aggregate exposure models for young children. provide information for the formulation of hypotheses to test in future research. fill in critical data gaps on young children's exposures. Results of this study will be used by Federal Agencies, states, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the general public to improve the knowledge of the key environmental routes and factors that influence young children's exposures, improve approaches for estimating children's exposures, and refine aggregate exposure assessments of children as outlined under the FQPA. Results of the study will be used to replace and/or refine default assumptions, thereby reducing the uncertainty of exposure and risk assessments for children. The Children's Total Exposure to Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants (CTEPP) study was conducted under contract to Battelle. A manuscript describing the sampling methodology for the study is in press for publication by a peer review journal. A manuscript on the levels of chlorpyrifos, and its degradation product, 3,5,6-tricholor-2-pyridinol, has been submitted for publication. The following manuscript was published previously: Wilson, N.K., J.C. Chuang, R. Iachan, C. Lyu, S.M. Gorgon, M.K. Morgan, H. Ozkaynak, and L.S. Sheldon. Design and sampling methodology for a large study of preschool children's aggregate exposures to persistent organic pollutants in their everyday environments. JEAEE (submitted). Research Collaboration and Research Products Future Research Results from the CTEPP study have been used to develop the Design for a Field Study to Evaluate Protocols for Obtaining Reliable Data on Children's Exposure ------- to Pesticides ( FY03, APM 244). Future analyses of the CTEPP data will include aggregate exposure estimates for children, identification of important sources and routes of exposure, and evaluation of the relationship of urinary biomarker concentrations to aggregate exposures and potential doses. Analyses of the CTEPP data are on-going. Results of the study will be summarized and reported in 2004 and disseminated to the scientific community and the public through presentations, reports, and publications. In addition, the data will be made available to the public on the EPA's Human Exposure Database System (HEDS) at http://www.epa.gov/heds/. Questions and inquiries can be directed to the principal investigator: Marsha K. Morgan, Ph.D. U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory MD E205-04 Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711 Phone: 919-541-2598 E-mail: morgan.marsha@epa.gov Contacts for Additional Information Federal funding for this research was administered under EPA contract number 68-D-99-011 to Battelle. ------- |