Competency #3: Identify and evaluate exposure pathways for contaminants at hazardous waste sites.

Courses and Training Videos

Modules

• Online Public Health Assessment Training (PHAT) Modules - In this series of online and interactive modules, you will learn the fundamentals of the public health assessment (PHA) process. For competency #3, please review the PHAT Module 4: Exposure Pathway Evaluation. This module will guide you in assessing exposure pathways and determining whether they are completed, potential, or eliminated.

Guidance

Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual (PHAGM)

In PHAGM, you will find methods and resources to evaluate environmental exposures associated with environmental contamination. For competency #3, please refer to the Exposure Pathways section of the PHAGM for guidance on identifying and assessing past, present, and future exposure pathways during the PHA process. This section also includes details on the components of an exposure pathway and helpful tips for conducting your evaluation.

Exposure Unit Guidance

Refer to the Exposure Unit Guidance to learn about what exposure units are and how they are used in the PHA process.

Vapor Intrusion Guidance

• Guidance for Evaluating Vapor Intrusion Pathways - Use this ATSDR's guidance for information on how to evaluate vapor intrusion pathways.
• Soil Vapor Intrusion Conceptual Model Figure - In this vapor intrusion infographic, you will see how volatile contaminants can move through outdoor air, groundwater, and soil gas to ultimately enter indoor air in a residential home.

Other Guidance Documents

• Guidance for Assessing PFAS in Fish & Other Aquatic Organisms - Use this guide to learn how to conduct a health assessment in areas with potential per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure via consumption of fish or other aquatic organisms that are locally harvested and consumed.
• PFAS Nomenclature - Use this fact sheet for an overview of PFAS terminology, names, and acronyms. The fact sheet is from the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC).

Tools

Checklists and Worksheets

• Exposure Pathways Checklists - These tables include common exposure points for water, soil, biota, and other media.
• Site Information Checklist - Refer to this checklist for information on issues and medium-specific concerns that you should consider when reviewing data for the health assessment.
• Vapor Intrusion Data Quality Evaluation Worksheet - Use this list as a tool to track the data quality issues important to your vapor intrusion evaluations.
• Home Alterations and Vapor Intrusion - fact sheet template - Use this fact sheet template to explain to home and buildings' owners the effect that renovation activities can have on vapor intrusion and indoor air quality. The fact sheet also emphasizes the importance of monitoring radon levels during the renovation process.