Environmental Health XIV. Standards and Monitoring Shu-Chi Chang, Ph.D., P.E., P.A. Assistant Professor 1 and Division Chief 2 1 Department of Environmental Engineering 2 Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health National Chung Hsing University Friday, June 22, 2007

Outline Introduction Monitoring physical stresses and toxic materials Measuring waterborne and airborne exposure Designing a monitoring program Computer and screening models Comprehensive exposure assessment

Introduction Two basic objectives Estimate exposures of people Determine compliance Different types Source-related Person-related Environment-related Different scale monitoring programs involve different industrial and governmental personnel and agencies

Types and purposes (1)

Types and purposes (2)

Monitoring physical stresses and toxic materials Different natures for monitoring these two different exposures Environmental pathways Sampling and analyzing contaminants in different biota and media Stressor measurement Real-time Interference Position and location specific Airborne Particle and gaseous Synergistic

Measuring waterborne and airborne exposure First step in assessing potential exposure Source and environmental media Sampling during all phased of plant operation

Assessing waterborne releases Different samples Grab samples Composite samples Timed-cycle samples Flow-proportional samples Indicator samples Considerations Expenses Representativeness Quality assurance Quantity

Assessing airborne releases Sampling at different locations Considerations Techniques Sampler choices Quantity Representativeness Exposure measurement Personal sampler

Advantages and disadventages

Designing a monitoring program Attributes Objective Sampling and analysis Expenses Simple and verifiable Sensitive to changes

Example of monitoring program (1) A nuclear facility Population distribution, occupancy, habits, food consumption Land and water use, food production Direct radiation Meteorological data, discharges to atmosphere Hydrological data, liquid discharges Estimate doses to critical groups and populations Determine Important radionuclides And pathways

Example of monitoring program (2) A nuclear facility Quality assurance requirements Select indicator materials Review and revise Specify sampling media, locations, and frequencies Select methods for analysis Monitoring Program

Background data Baseline information Population, land and water use, meteorology and hydrology Sampling considerations Installation, release, physical and chemical forms, other sources, nature of receiving environments Natural features, artificial features, land use, and sources of local water supplies Sampling prior to operation can help data interpretation Critical group and total population

Pathways (1)

Pathways (2)

Sample collection and analysis Different focuses In-plant: complex mixture In the field: extremely low concentration Guidance on the sampling and analysis of environmental samples Special consideration Preferential deposition Historical releases Specific concerns Source identification Indicator measurement and more specific and sensitive measurement Monitoring network

Temporal relationship Time between release and the occurrence of exposure The length of the time for the exposure to happen Direct external exposure Inhalation Lungs Thyroids Stomach and GI tract

Example – temporal relationship

Quality assurance QA program Acceptance testing or qualification of lab and field sampling and analytic devices Routine calibration of all associated instrumentation A lab cross-check program Replicate sampling on a systematic basis Procedural audits Documentation of lab and field procedures and QA records Sampling validity and sample preservation

Computer and screening models Toxic Release Inventory Models for evaluating the transport of environmental contaminants Models became sophisticated and hard to use Screening tools

Comprehensive exposure assessment Voids occurred Multiple-component program Distribution of questionnaires Collection of soil, house dust, indoor air, tap water, and diet samples Analysis of these samples for some 30 compounds Collection of samples of blood, urine, and hair as biological indicators of human uptake of individual contaminants EMAP

Ecological versus human health