Guidance on Selecting the Appropriate Age Groups for Assessing Childhood Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (2003, External Review Draft)

Abstract

A major issue facing the Agency is how to consistently consider age-related changes in behavior and physiology when assessing early lifestage exposure and potential dose. Key to this issue is how to capture these changes in an assessment of risks from exposure to environmental contaminants. This document is intended to provide guidance to EPA scientists on the appropriate age groups to consider when assessing childhood exposure and potential dose to environmental contaminants. A consistent set of childhood age groups, supported by an underlying scientific rationale, will improve Agency exposure and risk assessments for children and will assist the Agency in implementing various regulatory initiatives. In addition, these age groups will guide future analyses of exposure factors data as well as new research and data collection efforts.

This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.

• Guidance on Selecting the Appropriate Age Groups for Assessing Childhood Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (External Review Draft) (PDF)  (40  pp, 655.3 KB, about PDF)
• Age Group Recommendations for Assessing Childhood Exposure and the Adequacy of Existing Exposure Factors Data for Children (PDF)  (162  pp, 13.7 MB, about PDF)