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Occupational Exposure Complexity Characterization to Support Chemical Exposure Assessment Strategy Selection
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Workers are often exposed to mixtures of chemicals, like "forever chemicals" (PFAS), engineered nanomaterials, and microplastics, in ways that are hard to measure accurately because job conditions vary so much. This paper introduces a new framework to help scientists and safety experts figure out the best method for measuring these exposures, whether that's testing the air, testing workers' blood or urine, or using computer models. Better exposure assessment matters because it's the first step toward understanding health risks and creating stronger workplace safety protections.
Contemporary occupational environments are characterized by complex exposure scenarios involving multiple contaminants, exposure pathways, and variable working conditions. Occupational exposure assessment approaches provide complementary information but offer limited guidance for selecting assessment strategies according to exposure scenario complexity. This study presents Occupational Exposure Complexity Characterization (OECC), a conceptual methodology developed through an examination of the principal occupational exposure assessment approaches. The methodology characterizes occupational exposure scenarios using six complementary dimensions describing chemical, exposure pathway, temporal, occupational activity, monitoring, and interpretation complexity. The findings obtained across these dimensions are organized into the Occupational Exposure Complexity Profile (OECP), which provides a structured characterization of exposure scenario complexity and may support the selection of environmental monitoring, personal exposure monitoring, human biomonitoring, exposure modeling, or integrated assessment approaches. The methodology includes a workflow from exposure characterization to support assessment strategy selection and was illustrated using published occupational exposure scenarios involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, engineered nanomaterials, and microplastics. Occupational Exposure Complexity Characterization (OECC) provides a preliminary framework for support exposure assessment strategy selection according to the characteristics of the exposure scenario.
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