A user-friendly tool to assess combined exposures to indoor air pollutants in public spaces of children

Abstract

This manuscript describes the methodology for and early experience in the application of a screening tool to assess health risks from combined exposure to indoor air pollutants in public settings for children such as schools, kindergartens and day-care centres. The user-friendly tool incorporates tiers modified from those of the World Health Organization (WHO) framework for risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals and includes a spreadsheet for risk calculation as well as a supporting toxicological database of guidance values and points of departure (PODs) for inhalation for selected effects. Supporting resources on exposure assessment include a screening questionnaire to identify optimum sampling strategies and standardized analytical methods. The approach to assessment of combined exposure within the screening tool, including decision rules, assumptions and limitations/uncertainties is addressed, as is the nature of health-effects and reference/toxicity values prioritized for inclusion in the associated toxicological database. Results of early experience in application illustrate how the screening tool contributes as an important component in strategies to assess and manage indoor air pollution in public settings for children.

Keywords: Adjusted point of departure index; Assessment group; Combined exposures; Hazard index; Indoor air pollutants; Settings for children.