The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program: Methods Report

The Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program was modeled after the USEPA TEAM approach. The TEAM approach is based on four fundamental characteristics: direct measurement of all routes of exposure (breathing, ingestion, and skin contact), direct measurement of biomarkers, daily logs of a participant’s activities, and a representative probability sample. The study was designed to assess exposure and associated health effects by direct measurement of personal exposure, direct measurement of biomarkers, and daily logs of a participant's activities. The contaminants identified for personal exposure measurement for the Alberta Oil Sands Community Exposure and Health Effects Assessment Program were sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds, and particulates. The biological measures of effect included in the study included: autoantibody activity, a neurocognitive assessment, and a respiratory health assessment including a respiratory health history survey and a spirometry assessment. In addition to the direct measures of exposure and the measurement of biological markers of exposure and effect, the study instruments also included a time-activity diary that required participants to record daily activities that might have an effect on exposure.