Exposure Factors Handbook of Chinese Population (Adults)

Exposure parameters are the basic parameters used to describe the characteristics and behavior of human exposure to environmental media, and are an important factor in determining the accuracy of environmental health risk assessment. From 2011 to 2012, the Department of Science, Technology and Standards of the Ministry of Environmental Protection commissioned the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences to carry out the Research on the Environmental Exposure Behavior of Chinese People for people aged 18 and above in China, and on this basis, comprehensive other domestic investigations and studies and statistical information, formed the Exposure Factors Handbook of Chinese Population (Adults) (hereinafter referred to as the Handbook).

The Handbook consists of 13 chapters. Chapter 1 is the compilation description, introducing the background purpose, working process, scope of application and use method of the compilation of the Handbook. Chapters 2 to 13 are the main content of the Handbook, which is divided into three parts according to the parameter category. The first part is chapters 2 to 5, which are intake parameters, including respiratory volume, drinking water intake, and dietary intake, soil/dust intake. The second part is chapters 6-9, which are time activity pattern parameters, including time activity pattern parameters related to air exposure (indoor and outdoor activity time, transportation mode and time), and water exposure related time activity pattern parameters (bath time, swimming time, etc.), time activity pattern parameters related to soil exposure (soil contact time), time activity pattern parameters related to electromagnetic exposure (contact time with mobile phones, computers, etc.). The third part is Chapters 10 to 13, which are other parameters, including weight, skin exposure parameters, life expectancy and housing related parameters.

For each type of parameter, the definition, influencing factors and acquisition method of the parameter are first introduced, then the source of data and information and the recommended value of the parameter, and finally the comparison with foreign related parameters. In addition, each chapter lists data by region (East, Central and West, districts and provinces), urban and rural areas, gender, and age in the form of an attached table. Some parameters also list seasonal data. The sample size, arithmetic mean, and percentile values (P5, P25, P50, P75, P95) are listed in the attached table. Readers can choose according to their needs.

The Handbook is the first in China. This handbook of exposure parameters aims to provide reference and reference for relevant scientific research and management personnel. Due to time and experience limitations, it is inevitable that there are deficiencies in the compilation process, so readers are welcome to criticize and correct.

Japanese Exposure Factors Handbook

The exposure coefficient is various coefficients and units used when evaluating the amount of exposure, and the exposure coefficient handbook summarizes them. The amount of exposure is often evaluated based on the concentration of chemical substances in the medium such as air and water and the intake of the medium. When the concentration in the medium and the media intake are multiplied, the amount of exposure from the medium can be obtained, and the total amount of exposure can be obtained by combining it with various media. In order to select reasonable values as much as possible when evaluating exposure, reduce the workload of obtaining exposure coefficient values, improve efficiency, and use common values to improve the comparability of exposure evaluation results. One of the reasons why we decided to create a Japanese version of the exposure coefficient handbook is that the values of various exposure coefficients.

In the exposure assessment, we thought that a clear value of the basis should be used. Another reason is that exposure to chemical substances strongly reflects the characteristics of the population to be evaluated, so it is necessary to use unique Values in Japan in order to properly evaluate the exposure situation in Japanese people. For example, since Japanese eat more fish than in Europe and the United States, the value of fish intake in Europe and the United States is considered to be completely inappropriate for evaluating the exposure amount of Japanese people.

In the Exposure Factor Handbook, we also organized information on individual differences in exposure. In the exposure assessment, there are many cases where there is interest in individual differences in exposure, but there are not many cases where there is enough data to consider individual differences in exposure amount. Therefore, in the evaluation of substances that do not provide information on individual differences in exposure, it is also beneficial to use the magnitude of individual differences in exposure with substances of similar property.

Korean Exposure Factors Handbook

The human exposure assessment of environmental pollutants is implemented for multiple purposes of hazard assessment. In order to evaluate the exposure of environmental pollutants, in addition to evaluating the concentration of pollutants in air, water, food, soil, etc., it is also necessary to evaluate air intake, water, food and soil intake, exposure period, exposure frequency, etc. To make an evaluation, these variables are all necessary for the exposure of environmental pollutants.

In the research of exposure variables so far, there are many cases where the researchers either apply their own parameters at will, or directly use the exposure parameters of the United States. As a result, the researchers’ exposure evaluation results are inconsistent, and the direct use of foreign data, due to differences in ethnicity, environment, culture, and living habits, cannot reflect South Korea's exposure characteristics, which reduces the credibility of the exposure evaluation results. In order to achieve a highly credible risk assessment, it is necessary to formulate national standards related to the environment and to use exposure parameters that are representative of all Korean citizens.

Since 2005, South Korea has implemented a three-year Research on the Development of Korean-type Exposure Parameters and the Construction of its Operating System (Zhang Jae-yeon et al., 2007). The exposure variables included in the study include: respiration rate, drinking water intake, soil food intake, time spent in various places and transportation, and water time for washing hands.

The exposure index contained in this manual was selected with reference to the Exposure Factors Handbook of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Based on these exposure variables, the parameters suitable for Korean exposure evaluation are proposed. General exposure parameters include: life span, body weight, body surface area, respiration rate, drinking water intake, and soil food intake. Dietary intake exposure parameters include: intake of cereals and their products, intake of meat and meat products, intake of fish and shellfish, intake of seafood, intake of vegetables, intake of fruits Intake, nut intake, milk and dairy products intake, egg intake, fat intake, condiment intake, sugar intake and its products intake. Time activity exposure parameters include: time consumed by various activities, time consumed at various locations, transportation time, hand washing, washing, showering, bathing, swimming time, population mobility, and occupational mobility.

The research results of this handbook can be widely used, which is the purpose of its issuance. This handbook is suitable for everyone.