September 2007
Chemical Assessments for the Voluntary Childhood Chemical Exposure Program (VCCEP)
Our Challenge
- We performed childhood exposure assessments for benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) and acetone as part of EPA’s Voluntary Childhood Chemical Exposure Program (VCCEP)
Our Approach
- We used a child-centered approach to define exposures from background sources (e.g. ambient indoor and outdoor air, water, diet, endogenous production), specific sources (e.g. consumer products, tobacco smoke, vehicle-related sources) and occupational sources
- Intake was determined using information obtained from the literature, environmental monitoring databases and dietary surveys
- Doses were quantified using pharmacokinetic modeling, indoor air quality models and consumer exposure models
Our Findings
- Inhalation of residential indoor air is the predominant background exposure source for BTX
- Endogenous exposures dominate all other exposure for acetone
- Infant breast milk ingestion is a significant pathway, as received via occupationally exposed mothers (BTX) and endogenous production in mothers (acetone)
- Other predominant sources include tobacco smoke (benzene, toluene), gasoline-related sources (benzene), and consumer products (toluene)