Background
Much research is already underway in Europe and elsewhere with the aim of better characterising and quantifying indoor exposures (whether these relate to harmful chemical agents or otherwise). The majority of this work is either focused on nationally related issues or is oriented to specific agents e.g. benzene, asthmagens. Both workplace and domestic environments are included in the scope of the research.
There is a need to provide a coherent picture of the nature of this ongoing and planned research. It should cover studies aimed at measuring exposures, as well as those concerned with related factors e.g. improved monitoring techniques, reliable diary studies. This should be accomplished, in the first instance, by sponsoring work to compile and maintain an inventory of relevant work. The inventory would need to address both man-made and natural sources of exposure, e.g. radon, house mite dusts and account for the impact of differences in lifestyle at the national and regional level.
Objectives
Proposals
Proposals submitted for consideration should follow the format of the application from'Application for a CEFIC-LRI Grant' and should address the following areas under individual subheadings:
The title of the research proposal.
The name and affiliation of the principal investigator and the laboratory or laboratories in which the research will be conducted.
Evidence of the principal investigator's knowledge of, and contribution to, current understandings of the role of indoor exposure in human toxicology and risk assessment
Expertise in the use of dedicated database software suitable for the purpose.
A clear definition of the research objectives, including a description of the mechanistic basis for the proposed research.
A clear plan of investigation, including a clearly defined milestone plan that identifies all critical decision points in the research programme.
A detailed breakdown of costs.
Monitoring
The successful applicant(s) will be required to submit a progress report every 6 months during the course of the programme. At the end of the each year (12 months), a detailed review of the project and the achievements made will be provided by the principal investigator. The successful applicant(s) will also be required to prepare for publication a manuscript describing the work undertaken and the results achieved.
Scope
Sponsor a project to establish and manage an inventory of a recent, ongoing and planned research relevant to the indoor (workplace and domestic) environment.
Establish and manage an inventory of recent, ongoing and planned research on indoor air quality. This would include information on exposures to hazardous agents (including chemicals) arising as a consequence of typical daily activities. It would exclude data derived from one-off events e.g. major spills or leakages from landfills.
Develop a suitable structure for maintaining and interrogating the database, e.g. by agent, activity, regionally, etc.
Give consideration to including information on other factors which influence exposures within the indoor environment e.g. use patterns of consumer goods, key data on building characteristics.
Obtain agreement on access provision and related funding/licensing arrangements.
On the basis of the inventory, define the data gaps and develop proposals to address these.