Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2014.40.1.17

Survey of Exposure Factors for Risk Assessment of Hazardous Materials in Child-Specific Products  

Kim, Jungkon (National Institute of Environmental Research)
Seo, Jung-Kwan (National Institute of Environmental Research)
Kim, Taksoo (National Institute of Environmental Research)
Park, Gun-Ho (Institute of Environmental Protection and Safety, NeoEnBiz Co.)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.40, no.1, 2014 , pp. 17-26 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: Despite children's unique characteristics that distinguish them from adults, relatively few attempts have been made to measure exposure factors for characterization of children's exposure to hazardous chemicals in child-specific products (CSP). This study was conducted to establish the child-specific exposure factors for exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in CSP. Methods: We investigated the exposure factors (e.g., time use of child-products, time and frequency of object-to-body contact, time and frequency of object-to-mouth contact) influencing children's exposure to CSP (e.g., toys, playmats, oil pastels, etc.) in 650 children through a parent-completed questionnaire using a web-based survey. Participants were recruited in five age groups, <1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-6, and 6-12 years of age. Results: The child-specific exposure factors were presented as the mean, median, $95^{th}$ percentile, minimum, and maximum values. Time activity for play mats was the longest among CSP and infants spent more time on them than did elder age groups (189.3-224.7 min/day for <1-2 years vs. 91.2 min/day for 6-12 years). It is apparent that time and frequency of toy block- and plastic toy-to-mouth contact significantly decreased as a function of age. When the variation of CSP use patterns was compared by gender, the only variable that was statistically different between genders was time activity in child-products exposure space. Conclusion: We believe the five child-specific exposure factors suggested in the present study will be valuable for reducing uncertainty in the estimation of chemical exposure during risk assessment of CSP and furthermore, in the appropriate regulations to protect children's health.
Keywords
Child-specific products; Children's exposure; Non-dietary ingestion; Indirect ingestion;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Xue J, Zartarian V, Tulve N, Moya J, Freeman N, Auyeung W, et al. A meta-analysis of children's object-to-mouth frequency data for estimating nondietary ingestion exposure. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2010; 20(6): 536-545.   DOI
2 National Institute of Envlronmental Research. Exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in child-products(III): dermal exposure. Inchon: National Institute of Envlronmental Research Press; 2009.
3 Cohen Hubal EA, Sheldon LS, Burke JM, McCurdy TR, Berry MR, Rigas ML, et al. Children's exposure assessment: a review of factors influencing children's exposure, and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2000; 108(6): 475-486.   DOI
4 National Institute of Envlronmental Research. Exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in child-products(I): oral exposure. Inchon: National Institute of Envlronmental Research Press; 2007.
5 National Institute of Envlronmental Research. Exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in child-products(II): oral exposure. Inchon: National Institute of Envlronmental Research Press; 2008.
6 US EPA. Child-specific exposure factors handbook. In: Agency UEP, editor. Washington DC: US EPA Press; 2008.
7 AuYeung W, Canales RA, Beamer P, Ferguson AC, Leckie JO. Young children's hand contact activities: an observational study via videotaping in primarily outdoor residential settings. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2006; 16(5): 434-446.   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Freeman NCG, Jimenez M, Reed KJ, Gurunathan S, Edwards RD, Roy A, et al. Quantitative analysis of children's microactivity patterns: the minnesota children's pesticide exposure study. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 2001; 11(6): 501.   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Smith SA, Norris B. Reducing the risk of choking hazards: Mouthing behaviour of children aged 1 month to 5 years. Inj Control Saf Promot. 2003; 10(3): 145-154.   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Juberg DR, Alfano K, Coughlin RJ, Thompson KM. An observational study of object mouthing behavior by young children. Pediatrics. 2001; 107(1): 135.   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Hines M. Prenatal endocrine influences on sexual orientation and on sexually differentiated childhood behavior. Front Neuroendocrin. 2011; 32(2): 170-182.   DOI   ScienceOn
12 Van Engelen JGM, Park MVDZ, Janssen PJCM, Oomen AG, Brandon EFA, Bouma K, et al. Chemicals in toys: a general methodology for assessment of chemical safety of toys with a focus on elements. RIVM; 2006.
13 Health Canada. Risk Assessment on Diisononyl Phthalate in Vinyl Children's Products. In: Division CP. editor. Ottawa: Health Canada Press; 1998.
14 Tulve NS, Suggs JC, McCurdy T, Cohen Hubal EA, Moya J. Frequency of mouthing behavior in young children. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 2002; 12(4): 259-264.   DOI   ScienceOn
15 Yang W, Lee K, Yoon C, Yu S, Park K, Choi W. Determinants of residential indoor and transportation activity times in Korea. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2011; 21(3): 310-316.   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Green Consumer Network in Korea. Available: http://cafe.gcn.or.kr/[accessed 23 November 2013].
17 Kim M. Direction for improvement and domestic status of risk management of chemicals in consumer products. Spring Simposium of the Korean Society of Environmental Health and Toxicology. 2012: PL-2.
18 Goldman LR. Children--unique and vulnerable. environmental risks facing children and recommendations for response. Environ Health Perspect. 1995; 103: 13-18.   DOI
19 Bearer CF. How are children different from adults. Environ Health Perspect. 1995; 103: 7-12.   DOI
20 Groot ME, Lekkerkerk MC, Steenbekkers LPA. Mouthing Behaviour of Young Children: An Observational Study. The Netherlands: Agricultural University Wageningen Press; 1998.
21 Babich MA. Risk assessment of low-level chemical exposures from consumer products under the U.S. consumer product safety commission chronic hazard guidelines. Environ Health Perspect. 1998; 106: 387-390.
22 National Institute of Envlronmental Research. Exposure and risk assessment of hazardous substances in child-products(IV): inhalation exposure. Inchon: National Institute of Envlronmental Research Press; 2010.
23 European Commission. EU Rapid Alert System. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/rapex_archives_en.cfm [accessed 23 November 2013].