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Exposure Assessment Tools by Tiers and Types - Aggregate and Cumulative
 Overview
 Description
 Methods
 Input Data
 Applications
 References
Overview

Humans and ecological receptors are exposed to multiple stressors via multiple pathways. Considerable attention has been dedicated to assessing how different stressors interact and how overall exposure is influenced by uptake via different routes and pathways.
Assessments that examine exposure to more than one stressor and/or route and pathway are considered "combined" exposure assessments. Cumulative and aggregate assessments represent the two major categories of combined exposure assessments currently in use.

Aggregate exposureAggregate exposureThe combined exposure of an individual (or defined population) to a specific agent or stressor via relevant routes, pathways, and sources. Total exposure can include exposure through multiple routes (e.g., dermal, inhalation, and ingestion). assessment considers combined exposures to a single stressor across multiple routes and multiple pathways (U.S. EPA, 2003).
 

Cumulative exposureCumulative exposureExposure via mixtures of contaminants both indoors and outdoors. Exposure may also occur through more than one pathway. New directions in risk assessments in U.S. EPA put more emphasis on total exposures via multiple pathways. assessment generally evaluates combined exposure to multiple stressors via multiple exposure pathways (U.S. EPA, 2003) that affect a single biological target. In addition to chemical stressors, cumulative exposure assessments might also take into account non-chemical stressors. Non-chemical stressors may include physical or biological stressors.
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