空氣汙染的量測誤差會影響相關健康效應的評估，而誤差的來源包括暴露濃度在時序上的變異以及量測的計量方式。本課程將透過Excel試算表，針對可逆(reversible)、不可逆(irreversible)、等比例(proportional)及超過閾值而誘發(discrete)之四類健康效應，進行汙染物暴露濃度模擬，以了解暴露計量(exposure metrics) 包含之變異性，並探討暴露計量與體內劑量之關係，以及可能之誤差。建此基礎之上，本課程將引導學生應用上述模擬之結果及觀察，針對課程指定之文獻進行回顧及批判分析，提出該文獻暴露評估之限制，進一步於期末報告利用分組方式，結合暴露計量觀念提出可行之研究設計及解決方案。

Hazardous exposures are usually complex extended temporal processes leading to the development of biological responses, “damage/adverse responses/health effects”. A study intended to determine the quantitative relationship between exposure and risk of the effect requires a careful matching of the temporal variation in exposure with the kinetics of uptake, distribution and metabolism and matching those to the dynamics of response. However, bias and attenuation of the health risk estimate can be introduced when there is exposure error in air pollution measurement. Adequate exposure metrics may provide a means of reducing error (leading to less bias and uncertainty in health risk estimates) if they capture variability in exposure, which depends on the study design, health outcome, and pollutant of interest.

To enable this, the course will start from a review of the basic components of exposure assessment for air pollution and subsequently introduce exposure metrics for four types of health outcomes: different combination of reversible/irreversible and discrete/proportional outcomes. Students will develop knowledge of exposure determinants and its temporal behavior (variability), in conjunction with skills for modeling temporal behavior of exposures and outcomes through simulations using excel spreadsheets. Guided critical analysis of publications will be performed, and information from simulations will be used to design an exposure assessment matched to the biology of the adverse effect(s). In the finals, the class will culminate with a design project where small groups of students design a new study of a specific exposure and hypothesized effect(s) reported in a previously critiqued scientific paper.