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Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches

Author

Listed:
  • Tanu Altomare

    (Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Patrick M. Tarwater

    (Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA)

  • Alesia C. Ferguson

    (Built Environment Department, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Helena M. Solo-Gabriele

    (Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA)

  • Kristina D. Mena

    (Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

Abstract

The human health impact from exposure to contaminated shorelines following an oil spill event has been investigated to some extent. However, the health risks to children have largely been characterized through the use of surveys and extrapolation from adult health outcomes. There is limited information on children’s behaviors during beach play requiring assumptions made based on observations from play activities in home settings. The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEACHES) quantified specific beach activities that can be used to inform human health risk assessments of children playing on beaches impacted by oil spills. The results of this study characterize children’s risk of cancer from exposure to oil spill chemicals by incorporating exposure-related information collected from the BEACHES study and by assuming oral, dermal, and inhalation exposure routes. Point risk estimates are compared with a previous, similar study that applied default exposure parameter values obtained from the published literature. The point risk estimates informed by BEACHES data are one order of magnitude lower compared with the previous risk assessment, with dermal exposures the overall risk driver in both. Additional Monte Carlo simulations evaluating the BEACHES data provide ranges of health risks with the highest estimates associated with dermal and oral exposure routes.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanu Altomare & Patrick M. Tarwater & Alesia C. Ferguson & Helena M. Solo-Gabriele & Kristina D. Mena, 2020. "Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2020:i:1:p:126-:d:468897
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lara E. Tomenchok & Maribeth L. Gidley & Kristina D. Mena & Alesia C. Ferguson & Helena M. Solo-Gabriele, 2020. "Children’s Abrasions in Recreational Beach Areas and a Review of Possible Wound Infections," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
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    4. Alesia Ferguson & Ashok Kumar Dwivedi & Esther Ehindero & Foluke Adelabu & Kyra Rattler & Hanna Rose Perone & Larissa Montas & Kristina Mena & Helena Solo-Gabriele, 2020. "Soil, Hand, and Body Adherence Measures across Four Beach Areas: Potential Influence on Exposure to Oil Spill Chemicals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Alesia Ferguson & Courtney Del Donno & Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi & Kristina Mena & Tanu Kaur Altomare & Rosalía Guerrero & Maribeth Gidley & Larissa Montas & Helena M. Solo-Gabriele, 2019. "Children Exposure-Related Behavior Patterns and Risk Perception Associated with Recreational Beach Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-19, August.
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