Human Exposure Pathways - Dealing with Contaminated Sites: From Theory Towards Practical Application - page 504

Table 11.7 Recommended inhalation volumes for long-term exposure [m 3 day − 1 ]

ECETOC 2001 US EPA 2006

Age class [years] Female Male Age [years] Female Male

<1 4.5

1-2 6.8 1 8.8 8.5

3-5 8.3 5 12.2 12.7

6-8 10

9-11 13 14 10 12.4 13.4

12-14 12 15 15 13.4 15.3

15-18 12 17 17 14.8 19.4

EU model for evaluating contaminants ECB ( 2003 ). These values are based mainly
on data for ICRP's Reference Man (ICRP 1975 ) and data from US EPA ( 1997 ).
ECETOC ( 2001 ) use data from the USA (US EPA 1997 ). ICRP ( 1975 ) give mean
values of 23 m 3 per day for men and 21 m 3 per day for women. The US data for
metabolically consistent breathing rates (Layton 1993 ) is based on three energy-
based approaches for estimating daily inhalation rates: average daily intakes of
food energy from dietary surveys, (with an upward adjustment to account for under
reporting of food consumption); average daily energy expenditure based upon the
ratio of total daily expenditure to basal metabolism; and daily energy expenditures
based upon time-activity data. Values from all approaches were below those of the
ICRP reference values and the mean values for adults between the ages of 19 and
65 years were 15.2 m 3 /d for males and 11.3 m 3 /d for females. In a study by Lordo
et al. ( 2006 ) estimates of the inhalation volume were calculated as a function of
oxygen consumption (derived from energy expenditure). For eighteen year olds, the
estimates were 16.4 m 3 /d for males and 12.0 m 3 /d for females.
US EPA ( 2006 ) recommends age-specific inhalation rates for children, also based
on the data of Lordo et al. ( 2006 ). ECETOC ( 2001 ) also gives age-specific inhala-
tion rates for children. These rates are shown in Table 11.7 . CLEA's recommended
inhalation rates according to age and sex for residential and commercial land use
are based on Lordo et al. ( 2006 ). In other models, the choice of default value is
determined partly by the age-group being considered. In CSOIL, a value of 7.6
m 3 /d is used for children with a body weight of 15 kg and a rate of 20 m 3 /d for
adults.

11.6.5 Influence of Soil Properties

The soil particle size distribution determines how much wind is needed before dust
is generated at a site, therefore soil texture is important with respect to the amount
of dust in air. The surface cover of a site of course is important in determining
how much dust can be generated. The surface may be covered by vegetation, with a
range of densities, or by made-surfaces (e.g., asphalt, concrete) or buildings. Other
non-erodable surfaces, e.g., large stones or rocks, may also be important.