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Community-based exposure estimate for hydrogen sulfide

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 12, pages 124–129 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Indoor and outdoor air pollution monitoring may indicate potential human exposure to air contaminants. Individual and population exposures to air contaminants depend upon many factors including time spent outdoors and indoors, permeability of housing structures, and mobility within a community. In this report, we illustrate an approach for using long-term air monitoring to establish patterns or changes of environmental exposures, improve validity and representativeness of data, and prevent exposure misclassification. Long-term air monitoring for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at 14 Dakota City, Nebraska, residences identified differences in area-wide concentration levels, geographic locations, and seasonal exposures. Air data for 1999 indicated that Dakota City residents were repeatedly exposed, both indoors and outdoors, to moderate levels (≥90 parts per billion [ppb]) of H2S. Using GIS modeling and kriging, we produced a geographic gradient of exposure estimate or map for ambient H2S. These findings formed the basis for designing two health investigations for this community.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the late Linda Modlin of Dakota City, for her leadership and untiring efforts with community involvement. Valuable technical contributions were provided by Mary C. White, Lynn Wilder, Greg Zarus, Debra Gable, and Steven Kathman of ATSDR, and Sella Burchette and Keith Ocheski of EPA. Thoughtful technical reviews were provided by Lucy Peipins and Myron G. Schultz of ATSDR. Editorial review was provided by Pascale Krumm of ATSDR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Health Investigations Branch, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-31, Atlanta, 30333, Georgia, USA

    STEVEN INSERRA, BETTY PHIFER & DAVE CAMPAGNA

  2. Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Building 18, MS 101, Edison, 08837-3679, New Jersey, USA

    RAY PIERSON

Authors
  1. STEVEN INSERRA
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  2. BETTY PHIFER
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  3. RAY PIERSON
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  4. DAVE CAMPAGNA
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Correspondence to STEVEN INSERRA.

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INSERRA, S., PHIFER, B., PIERSON, R. et al. Community-based exposure estimate for hydrogen sulfide. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 12, 124–129 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500207

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