Wildlife Exposure Factors

The modeling of contaminant uptake by wildlife species represents an important component of the Tier 1 SRA and of Step 3a of the Tier 2 BERA. Dose modeling may also be identified for further use in the Tier 2 BERA beyond Step 3a. A critical aspect of dose modeling is the identification and use of exposure factors. These factors represent species-specific parameters related to food and water ingestion, body weight, home range, and diet composition. While there is considerable information available for wildlife species on these parameters, this information located throughout the scientific literature and is not readily obtainable. To assist risk assessors conducting dose modeling for wildlife species, the EPA has compiled into a handbook exposure factor information for 43 species of wildlife (reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds) that are common to the United States. This handbook, the Wildlife Exposure Factors Handbook, also includes valuable information for estimating exposure factor values when none are available, and information for developing dose models for soil, sediment, food, and water ingestion pathways. Volume 1 of this handbook, which presents species-specific life history overviews and summarizes the exposure factor values, is provided below in chapter-specific files. Volume 2, which provides the technical appendices of the supporting literature reviews that serve as the basis for Volume 1, and additional information about the handbook, can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/wefh.htm .

Last Modified: 05/26/2004

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