Biomarkers in Risk Assessment: Validity & Validation (2001) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), World Health Organization, Washington, D.C., Chapters 1-3.

Human Exposure Assessment (2000) Environmental Health Criteria 214, International Programme on Chemical Safety, The World Health Organization, Washington, D.C., Chapters 1-2.  

Principles for the Assessment of Risks to Human Health from Exposure to Chemicals (1999) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), World Health Organization, Washington, D.C., Chapter 5.  

Guidelines on Studies in Environmental Epidemiology (1983) International Programme on Chemical Safety,  World Health Organization, Washington, D.C., Chapter 3. 

 

Upon completion of this class, students will:

1. Upon completing this class, students will:
2. Understand the processes and terminology utilized in exposure assessment.
3. Appreciate how various types of biomarkers are utilized in exposure assessment and risk assessment.
4. Will understand dosage and the dose response relationship
5. Be familiar with how biomarkers are validated in risk assessment.

 

1. How is validity defined in the context of epidemiological research involving biomarkers?
2. Define exposure and exposure assessment.
3. Please discriminate between the following terms: Potential Dose, Applied Dose, Internal Dose, Absorbed Dose, Delivered Dose, and Biologically Effective Dose
4. Also distinguish the difference between a "biological effect" and an "adverse effect."
5. Please explain what the following terms mean: Source, Exposure Pathway, Exposure Concentration, Exposure Route, Intake, & Uptake).
6. Provide 3 examples of types of uncertainty that might be expected to be associated with exposure assessment. Likewise provide 3 examples of types of variability one might encounter.
7. Identify the basic information needed for exposure assessments in regard to risk assessment and in regard to risk management.
8. Within what disciplines has exposure assessment data been fruitfully used? Please describe how the data is used within each discipline.
9. Provide 3 examples of sources of error in biomarker measurement in epidemiological studies.
10. Identify 3 types of biomarkers and describe the characteristics of each type.
11. How are exposure biomarkers validated? How are effect biomarkers validated?
12. What is meant by the term "cross-species comparability"?
13. Although there is reasonable agreement that human exposure means contact with the chemical or agent, there is some ambiguity regarding exactly what the nature of this chemical/human contact entails. Please explain what this ambiguity entails.
14. How have the 1992 EPA Guidelines resolved this ambiguous issue?
15. Exposure (or dose) is assessed generally by utilizing one of three approaches. Please describe each approach.