Novel exposure assessment methods: a contribution to reduce the high burden of occupational ill health in NZ.

A large amount of information is available from numerous international and some New Zealand-based occupational studies on airborne exposures (dust), solvents, biological exposure markers (e.g. urinary levels of solvents and pesticides), and pesticides (and associated health effects); however, exposure monitoring in these studies has generally been limited to full work-shift average measurements, which lack the sensitivity required to identify specific determinants and routes of exposure.

 This project aims to:

• comprehensively assess peak and/or dermal exposures in three large New Zealand industries (the Agricultural/horticultural, vehicle collision repair and composites industries)
• identify key determinants of exposure
• use this data to design and implement targeted, practical and effective interventions to control exposures
• translate these findings into practice.