Harvey Zelon

The Team Study - Personal Exposures to Toxic-Substances in Air, Drinking-Water, and Breath of 400 Residents of New-Jersey, North-Carolina, and North-Dakota:

EPAs TEAM Study has measured exposures to 20 volatile organic compounds in personal air, outdoor air, drinking water, and breath of approximately 400 residents of New Jersey, North Carolina, and North Dakota. All residents were selected by a probability sampling scheme to represent 128,000 inhabitants of Elizabeth and Bayonne, New Jersey, 131,000 residents of Greensboro, North Carolina, and 7000 residents of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Participants carried a personal monitor to collect two 12-hr air samples and gave a breath sample at the end of the day. Two consecutive 12-hr outdoor air samples were also collected on identical Tenax cartridges in the backyards of some of the participants. About 5000 samples were collected, of which 1500 were quality control samples. Ten compounds were often present in personal air and breath samples at all locations. Personal exposures were consistently higher than outdoor concentrations for these chemicals and were sometimes 10 times the outdoor concentrations. Indoor sources appeared to be responsible for much of the difference. Breath concentrations also often exceeded outdoor concentrations and correlated more strongly with personal exposures than with outdoor concentrations. Some activities (smoking, visiting dry cleaners or service stations) and occupations (chemical, paint, and plastics plants) were associated with significantly elevated exposures and breath levels for certain toxic chemicals. Homes with smokers had significantly increased benzene and styrene levels in indoor air. Residence near major point sources did not affect exposure.

Personal exposures, indoor-outdoor relationships, and breath levels of toxic air pollutants measured for 355 persons in New Jersey

Abstract EPAs TEAM Study has measured exposures to 20 volatile organic compounds in personal air, outdoor air, drinking water and the breath of 355 persons in NJ, in the fall of 1981. The NJ residents were selected by a probability sampling scheme to represent 128,000 inhabitants of Elizabeth and Bayonne. Participants carried a personal monitor to collect two 12-h air samples and gave a breath sample at the end of the day. Two consecutive 12-h outdoor air samples were also collected on identical Tenax cartridges in the back yards of 90 of the participants. About 3000 samples were collected, of which 1000 were quality control samples. Eleven compounds were often present in air. Personal exposures were consistently higher than outdoor concentrations for these chemicals, and were sometimes ten times the outdoor concentrations. Indoor sources appeared responsible for much of the difference. Breath concentrations also usually exceed outdoor concentrations, and correlated more strongly with personal exposures than with outdoor concentrations. Some activities (smoking, driving, visiting dry cleaners or service stations) and occupations (chemical, paint and plastics plants) were associated with significantly elevated exposures and breath levels for certain toxic chemicals.

The California TEAM study: Breath concentrations and personal exposures to 26 volatile compounds in air and drinking water of 188 residents of Los Angeles, Antioch, and Pittsburg, CA

Abstract The U.S. EPA carried out a study of personal exposures to 26 volatile organic chemicals in the air, drinking water, and exhaled breath of 188 California residents in 1984. Sixteen chemicals were often found above quantifiable limits in the personal air samples, but only the four trihalomethanes were often found in drinking water. The highest exposures were to 1,1,1-trichloroethane, para-dichlorobenzene, xylenes, benzene, and tetrachloroethylene. Indoor air concentrations generally exceeded outdoor air concentrations, particularly at the higher percentiles. Breath concentrations of eight chemicals showed significant correlations with preceding personal air concentrations in the two visits to Los Angeles. Smoking, employment, and automobile-related activities were identified as important sources of personal exposure to a number of target compounds.

Personal exposure to volatile organic compounds: I. Direct measurements in breathing-zone air, drinking water, food, and exhaled breath

A pilot study to test methods of estimating personal exposures to toxic substances and corresponding body burdens was carried out between July and December 1980. Individual exposures to about a dozen volatile organic compounds in air and drinking water were measured for nine volunteers in Bayonne and Elizabeth, New Jersey, and for three volunteers in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina during three 3-day visits over the 6-month period. Breath samples were also collected from all subjects on each visit. Composite food samples were collected in each locality. Sampling and analytical methods for air, water, food, and breath were evaluated and found generally capable of detecting concentrations as low as 1 microgram/m3 in air and breath, and 1 ng/g in water and food. About 230 personal air samples, 170 drinking water samples, 66 breath samples, and 4 food samples (16 composites) were analyzed for the target chemicals. Ten compounds were present in air and eight were transmitted mainly through that medium. The two target trihalomethanes (chloroform and bromodichloromethane) were predominantly transmitted through water and beverages. Food appeared to be a minor route of exposure, except possibly for trichloroethylene in margarine. Seven compounds were present in more than half of the breath samples. Diurnal and seasonal variations were noted in air and water concentrations of some compounds, with summer levels generally higher. For some chemicals, weekday air exposures were significantly higher than weekend exposures. Some, but not all, of the potentially occupationally exposed individuals had significantly higher workplace exposures to several chemicals. Distributions of air exposures were closer to log normal than normal for most chemicals. Several chemicals were highly correlated with each other in personal air samples, indicating possible common sources of exposure.

Comparison of indoor and outdoor residential levels of volatile organic chemicals in five U.S. geographical areas

Abstract Matched pairs of indoor and outdoor air samples from residences in Greensboro, NC; Baton Rouge/ Geismar, LA; Deer Park/Pasadena, TX; Elizabeth/Bayonne, NJ: Antioch/W. Pittsburg, CA; and several small communities in the Los Angeles area were collected and analyzed for over 20 volatile organic compounds during the period from 1981 to 1984. Indoor (I) medians and maximum levels were higher than the corresponding outdoor (O) concentrations over the large majority of chemicals studied. In some cases, e.g., chloroform, dichlorobenzenes, and tetrachloroethylene, the median ratios (I/O) were greater than 10.

Sampling design, response rates, and analysis weights for the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) in EPA Region 5:

For the Phase I field test of the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, this paper presents the survey sampling design, the response rates achieved, and the sample weighting procedure implemented to compensate for unit nonresponse. To enable statistically defensible inferences to the entire region, a sample of about 250 members of the household population in EPA Region 5 was selected using a stratified multistage probability-based survey sampling design. Sample selection proceeded in four nested stages: (1) sample counties; (2) area segments based on Census blocks within sample counties; (3) housing units (HUs) within sample segments; and (4) individual participants within sample households. Each fourth-stage sample member was asked to participate in 6 days of exposure monitoring. A subsample of participants was asked to participate in two rounds of longitudinal follow-up data collection. Approximately 70% of all sample households participated in household screening interviews in which rosters of household members were developed. Over 70% of the sample subjects selected from these households completed the Baseline Questionnaire regarding their demographic characteristics and potential for exposures. And, over 75% of these sample members went on to complete at least the core environmental monitoring, including personal exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and tap water concentrations of metals. The sample weighting procedures used the data collected in the screening interviews for all household members to fit logistic models for nonresponse in the later phases of the study. Moreover, the statistical analysis weights were poststratified to 1994 State population projections obtained from the Bureau of the Census to ensure consistency with other statistics for the Region.

Responses to the region 5 NHEXAS time/activity diary. National Human Exposure Assessment Survey:

The time/activity diary developed for use in the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) was completed by 249 participants in the Research Triangle Institute/Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (RTI/EOHSI) NHEXAS population-based pilot project conducted in the upper Midwest (EPA Region 5). The majority of participants successfully completed the diary during the 6-day study period. Participant responses showed internal consistency between related questions within the diary and between instruments used within the study. Comparison of response rates with the National Human Activity Pattern Survey, a nationwide population-based study, found consistent results when the same questions were used in both studies. Several questions identified age-specific activities. The value of the 6-day diary over 1-day surveys was apparent in discriminating between episodic and regularly conducted activities and in identifying subpopulations whose behavior may contribute to exposure to environmental pollutants.

Results from the total exposure assessment methodology (Team) study in selected communities in Northern and Southern California

Abstract Volatile organic compound levels (VOCs) in breath, personal air, fixed outdoor air and drinking water samples were measured and compared for a probability sample of individuals in Los Angeles and Antioch/Pittsburg, California during 1984. In addition, comparisons were made between seasons (winter vs spring) in Los Angeles for individuals sampled in both seasons. The statistics presented to compare the sites and seasons were primarily percent measurable and concentration levels (e.g. sample medians). For most comparisons, 13 VOC levels were examined for breath, personal and outdoor air samples and four VOCs for water samples. In addition to the results for VOC levels, the paper also briefly describes 1. (i) the sampling procedures used to obtain the study participants 2. (ii) the collection of air, breath and water samples 3. (iii) selected results from the quality assurance procedures used in this study. For most chemicals, the percent measurable and concentration levels were 1. (i) higher in personal air samples than in breath or outdoor air samples, 2. (ii) higher in Los Angeles in the winter for air and breath than in the, spring, 3. (iii) higher in Los Angeles for air and breath than in Antioch/Pittsburg, 4. (iv) quite different for water as compared with air and breath. Ubiquitous compounds in water were chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform while in air and breath they were 1,1,1-trichloroethane, benzene, tetrachloroethylene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes. Concentrations were higher in 1. (i) outdoor air vs breath in the winter in Los Angeles (where outdoor air levels were much higher than in the spring), 2. (ii) in personal air vs outdoor air in the upper tails of the concentration distribution (90th percentile) compared to the 50th percentile. For the water samples, relatively high concentrations were noted for chloroform, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane. In most cases, water concentrations were higher for Los Angeles in the spring. Five VOCs known to be in tobacco smoke (benzene, styrene, ethylbenzene and the xylenes) had significantly higher levels in the breath of smokers.

Concentrations of 20 volatile organic compounds in the air and drinking water of 350 residents of New Jersey compared with concentrations in their exhaled breath

Twenty volatile organic compounds were measured in the personal air and drinking water of 350 New Jersey residents in the fall of 1981. Two consecutive 12-hour integrated personal air samples and two tap water samples were collected from each participant. At the end of the 24-hour monitoring period, each participant supplied a sample of exhaled breath. Simultaneous outdoor samples were collected in 100 residential locations in two cities. Eleven compounds were present much of the time in air, but only four (the trihalomethanes) in water; wide ranges of exposures (three to four orders of magnitude) were noted for most compounds. Ten of 11 compounds displayed significant correlations between air exposures and breath concentrations; the 11th (chloroform) was correlated with drinking water exposures. It was concluded that breath measurements are a feasible, cost-effective, and highly sensitive way to determine environmental and occupational exposures to volatile organic compounds.

Comparison of volatile organic levels between sites and seasons for the total exposure assessment methodology (TEAM) study

Abstract Comparisons were made between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath, personal air, fixed-site outdoor air and water samples from a probability (random) sample of individuals in Bayonne/Elizabeth, New Jersey; Los Angeles and Pittsburg/Antioch, California; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Devils Lake, North Dakota. In addition, comparisons were made between seasons in the Bayonne/Elizabeth and Los Angeles sites where the same individuals were sampled in two seasons. The most striking differences between sites and seasons were in outdoor air samples. For this medium the concentrations in Los Angeles in the winter season were much higher than in Bayonne/Elizabeth, New Jersey in the winter. However, in the summer season this difference was not evident due to a dramatic decrease in VOC levels in Los Angeles in the summer. Outdoor VOC levels in Greensboro and Devils Lake were usually dramatically lower than both Bayonne/Elizabeth and the California sites. Concentration levels for the breath and personal air samples were usually higher in the winter than the spring or summer. This was particularly true in Los Angeles for personal air samples. For the breath samples, this pattern was not clearcut and, in fact, Bayonne/Elizabeth tended to have higher concentrations in the summer. For water samples, Devils Lake had particularly low VOC levels. Bromoform, which was found in California samples, was almost never present in Bayonne/Elizabeth, Greensboro and Devils Lake samples.