This core facility combines sampling, analytical, and computational capabilities at MSPH and LDEO for the design and implementation of exposure assessments in support of Center Research Cores and for the collection, handling, laboratory analysis and data analysis of exposure assessment samples (both environmental samples and certain biomarkers). This core will coordinate existing facilities and staff in these areas as well as provide support for expansion of these facilities and efforts in ways that support the strategic goals of the Center.

An additional area of proposed change in this Core will be undertaken in response to the developing need for greater expertise in the area of spatial statistics in the context of exposure modeling within the Center.  While exposure monitoring continues to play a critical role in studies of environmental health in economically disadvantaged communities, there are many situations in which monitoring cannot, for logistical or technical reasons, provide as complete an exposure assessment as may be needed in a large epidemiologic study. For example, large-scale personal monitoring is currently not feasible for a study attempting to link long-term (e.g., year-long) diesel particle exposures to the risk of allergies and asthma.  In a setting like Northern Manhattan, where population exposures to air toxics are significantly related to motor vehicle emissions and where traffic patterns and densities potentially can be fairly well characterized, much could be gained in exposure assessments by taking advantage of new developments in spatial statistics and small-scale meteorological and air quality modeling.

To summarize, the activities of the Exposure Core are as follows:

• design of exposure assessments in support of research by Center investigators
• sampling and analysis of a wide range of environmental samples
• utilization of GIS methodologies in exposure assessments
• exposure modeling

MSPH analytical facilities that are part of this core include Dr. Ginger Chew’s allergen laboratory and Dr. Patrick Kinney’s Geographical Information GIS laboratory.  LDEO analytical facilities that are part of this core include Dr. Steven Chillrud’s environmental geochemistry laboratory that provides trained personnel and access to many of the multi-user trace element and mass spectrometry laboratories at LDEO. During the last several years, Drs. Chillrud and Kinney have also developed significant resources for air sampling studies (i.e., designed, built and/or purchased an array of personal and fixed site air sampling equipment).