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Transport and dynamics of toxic pollutants in the natural environment and their effect on human health: research gaps and challenge

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Abstract

The source–pathway–receptor (SPR) approach to human exposure and risk assessment contains considerable uncertainty when using the refined modelling approaches to pollutant transport and dispersal, not least in how compounds of concern might be prioritised, proxy or indicator substances identified and the basic environmental and toxicological data collected. The impact of external environmental variables, urban systems and lifestyle is still poorly understood. This determines exposure of individuals and there are a number of methods being developed to provide more reliable spatial assessments. Within the human body, the dynamics of pollutants and effects on target organs from diffuse, transient sources of exposure sets ambitious challenges for traditional risk assessment approaches. Considerable potential exists in the application of, e.g. physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models. The reduction in uncertainties associated with the effects of contaminants on humans, transport and dynamics influencing exposure, implications of adult versus child exposure and lifestyle and the development of realistic toxicological and exposure data are all highlighted as urgent research needs. The potential to integrate environmental with toxicological models provides the next phase of research opportunity and should be used to drive empirical and model assessments.

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Acknowledgements

The opinions expressed here are those of the authors. This research paper arose out of multidisciplinary discussions held at the MULTITUDE/SEGH workshop, held in June 2007 in Liverpool, UK. Participants with a wide range of expertise were brought together with the author(s) and this interpretation owes a great deal to those resultant discussions. The participants in this particular theme of the workshop included Louise Ander, Sarah Bull, Mark Cave, Paul Cleary, Elisa Giubilato, Gibby Koshy, Maria Lathouri, Theresa Mercer, George Onuoha, Jenny O’Reilly, George Shaw, Tom Shepherd, Kevin Taylor and Jacqui Thomas. This research and the workshop was supported by The Joint Environment and Human Health Programme, supported by (1) the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); (2) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); (3) the Environment Agency (EA); (4) the Ministry of Defence (MOD); (5) the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); (6) the Medical Research Council (MRC); (7) the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); (8) the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); and (9) the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and administered via NERC grant NE/E009484/1.

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  1. School of Engineering & Science, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus, Paisley, PA1 2BE, UK

    Andrew Hursthouse

  2. Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division, Health Protection Agency, Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, Sentinel House, Albert Street, Eccles, M30 0NJ, UK

    George Kowalczyk

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  1. Andrew Hursthouse
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Correspondence to Andrew Hursthouse.

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Hursthouse, A., Kowalczyk, G. Transport and dynamics of toxic pollutants in the natural environment and their effect on human health: research gaps and challenge. Environ Geochem Health 31, 165–187 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9213-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9213-6

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