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Paul J. Lioy,¹ Natalie C.G. Freeman,¹ and James R. Millette²

¹Environmental and Occupational Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; ²MVA, Inc., Norcross, Georgia, USA

Abstract

In this review, we examine house dust and residential soil and their use for identifying sources and the quantifying levels of toxicants for the estimation of exposure. We answer critical questions that focus on the selection of samples or sampling strategies for collection and discuss areas of uncertainty and gaps in knowledge. We discuss the evolution of dust sampling with a special emphasis on work conducted after the publication of the 1992 review by McArthur [Appl Occup Environ Hyg 7(9) :599-606 (1992) ]. The approaches to sampling dust examined include surface wipe sampling, vacuum sampling, and other sampling approaches, including attic sampling. The metrics of presentation of results for toxicants in dust surface loading (micrograms per square centimeter) or surface concentration (micrograms per gram) are discussed. We evaluate these metrics in terms of how the information can be used in source characterization and in exposure characterization. We discuss the types of companion information on source use and household or personal activity patterns required to assess the significance of the dust exposure. The status and needs for wipe samplers, surface samplers, and vacuum samplers are summarized with some discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of each type of sampler. We also discuss needs for research and development and the current status of standardization. Case studies are provided to illustrate the use of house dust and residential soil in source characterization, forensic analyses, or human exposure assessment. Key words: chemical composition, exposure characterization, house dust, physical composition, residence wipe sampling, source identification, vacuum sampling. Environ Health Perspect 110:969-983 (2002) . [Online 15 August 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p969-983lioy/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to P.J. Lioy, Environmental and Occupational Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA. Telephone: (732) 445-0150. Fax: (732) 445-0116. E-mail: plioy@eohsi.rutgers.edu

We thank D. Owuor for assisting in the preparation of this manuscript.

This research was supported by the RTI/EOHSI NHEXAS Consortium, U.S. Envrionmental Protection Agency (EPA) cooperative agreement CR 821902 ; the MENTOR project, U.S. EPA cooperative agreement CR 827033 ; and Center for Childhood Neurotoxicology and Exposure Assessment, National Institutes of Health, 1P01ES11256-01. P.J. Lioy and N.C.G. Freeman are part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Health Center, P30-ES05022.

Received 25 October 2001 ; accepted 5 March 2002.