Enhanced Exposure Assessment

One of the cornerstones of HEI’s efforts to better assess health effects of exposure is the care and attention given to assessment of pollution exposure in each study. This can be, as HEI noted in its Special Report on traffic-related air pollution, a key determinant of the validity of studies. Looking forward, the importance of assessing both outdoor and indoor exposure continues, but the approaches to doing so have been expanding rapidly, with the advent of remote sensing tools, innovative personal samplers, and emerging mobile apps and technology.  HEI is already, in its current studies on traffic exposure, addressing a number of these issues in a search for better estimates of exposure; continued efforts to enhance exposure assessment will be central to every major research program HEI undertakes under its new Plan.