Dust exposures calculation
Long-term (chronic) exposure to substances via dust can be estimated as a single value calculated from single value inputs. MCRA implements the calculation method that is also available in the RSExpo tool. The long term (chronic) dust exposure assessment can be split in dermal and oral exposure related to exposure to substances in dust.
Dust exposures are generated using properties age, sex and BSA of a simulated set of individuals or, as an alternative, an existing set of individuals from another module (e.g., the dietary exposures module). Specify the reference population with option Specify individuals for generating dust exposures with settings Simulate individuals or Use dietary individuals.
Figure 69 Modular design for dust exposures module when simulated individuals are used to generate exposures for source dust
Calculation of dermal exposures
The calculation for dermal exposure is:
Parameters used in the equation
\(\mathtt{E_{\mathtt{dust-derm}}}\) : average daily external exposure of an individual to substances by dust dermal contact (\(\mu g/kg \, bw /day\))
\(\mathtt{BW}\): body weight of the individual (default in \(kg\))
\(\mathtt{f_d}\): fraction of substance in dust available for dermal contact (%)
\(\mathtt{M_{adh,d}}\): amount of dust adhering to the skin (default in \(g/m^2/day\))
\(\mathtt{t_{dust}}\): time of home dust exposure (in \(h\))
\(\mathtt{S}\): body surface (default in \(m^2\))
\(\mathtt{f_{s, d}}\): fraction of the body surface exposed to dust (%)
\(\mathtt{c_d}\): substance concentration in dust (default in \(\mu g/g\))
Calculation of oral exposures
The calculation for exposure through oral ingestion is:
Parameters used in the equation
\(\mathtt{E_{\mathtt{dust-ing}}}\) : average daily external exposure of an individual to substances by dust ingestion (\(\mu g/kg \, bw /day\))
\(\mathtt{BW}\): body weight of the individual (default in \(kg\))
\(\mathtt{q_d}\): average daily amount of dust ingested by the individual (default in \(g/day\))
\(\mathtt{c_d}\): substance concentration in dust (default in \(\mu g/g\))