Inter- and intra-ethnic variation in water intake, contact, and source estimates among Tucson residents: Implications for exposure analysis

B. L. Williams, Y. Florez, S. Pettygrove

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Water-related exposures among Hispanics, particularly among Mexican Americans, are relatively unknown. Exposure and risk assessment is further complicated by the absence of good time-activity data (e.g., water intake) among this population. This study attempts to provide some insight concerning water-related exposure parameters among Hispanics. Determining the extent to which non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics living in the Tucson metropolitan area differ with respect to direct water intake and source patterns is the primary purpose of this investigation. Using random digit dialing, researchers conducted a cross-sectional telephone population survey of 1183 Tucson residents. Significant ethnic variation was observed in water intake patterns among this sample, particularly in terms of source. Hispanics reported much higher rates of bottled water consumption than did non-Hispanic whites. Ethnic variation in exposure parameters such as that observed in this study increases the potential for measurement error in exposure analysis. Erroneous assumptions that exposure estimates (i.e., water intake source) are generalizable across various ethnic groups may lead to both overestimation and underestimation of contaminant exposure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)510-521
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology
Volume11
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Exposure
  • Hispanic
  • Risk
  • Risk assessment
  • Water consumption
  • Water intake activity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Toxicology
  • General Environmental Science
  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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