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The beta distribution – a physically consistent model for human exposure to airborne contaminants

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Abstract

This brief note examines the beta distribution as a statistical model for airborne contaminant concentrations, and in particular as a tool to describe occupational exposures. The beta distribution is bounded on both tails and has the flexibility to accommodate skewed data. This is a requirement for any physically consistent model of concentration data. The method described here admits the maximum possible concentration as an upper bound to improve the statistical description. A comparison with the standard lognormal model is illustrated with a data set of naphthalene exposures.

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  1. CB7431 Rosenau Hall, Deparment of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, USA

    Michael R. Flynn

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  1. Michael R. Flynn
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Flynn, M. The beta distribution – a physically consistent model for human exposure to airborne contaminants. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment 18, 306–308 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-004-0180-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-004-0180-x

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