Pathway analysis is essential to estimate the degree of exposure and the potential health risks. Analyzing health risks is a complex process involving several steps. Mathematical modeling is used to reconstruct how the contaminants were dispersed and moved through the environment. After evaluating exposure pathways to determine the likelihood of human exposure, the risk assessor estimates the doses, or quantities of contaminants, that people could have received. Some, but not all, compounds can change from one form to another under certain conditions.
Some substances dissolve in water while others tend to settle to the bottom of lakes and streams.
Contaminants in gaseous form can be carried in the air or can move below the ground surface through soil and rock layers. This series of Technical Topic papers explains the research design, methods and terminology used in the State of Colorado's Historical Public Exposures Studies related to the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. The purpose of the project was to identify past contaminant releases from the plant and assess potential health risks to the community.