Modeling Exposure to Waterborne Organic Chemicals

Charles R. Wilkes, Ph.D.

The volatilization of volatile organic chemicals during water usage can result in significant indoor air concentrations, and the subsequent inhalation of these contaminants is an important route of exposure. The magnitude of these exposures is highly dependent on the activities undertaken by the exposed individual, as well as the activities of other occupants of the home. Results will be presented from a finite difference indoor air quality, human exposure and uptake model, that incorporates Monte-Carlo sampling techniques with human activity pattern databases to estimate a population exposure and absorbed dose resulting from uses of contaminated water. These results can be used to identify high-risk populations and effectiveness of remediation techniques. These same techniques can be applied to estimate occupational exposure and absorbed dose based on worker activity patterns.