Collection of Time Activity Data to Support Exposure Assessment: Protocol for a Systematic Evidence Map

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health Sciences
• Exposure Science
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Time Activity Data (TAD) quantifies human activities, crucial for estimating environmental agent exposure.
• Existing literature lacks a systematic characterization of TAD collection methods in environmental health.
• Understanding TAD collection is vital for accurate exposure assessment in diverse contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the environmental health literature that collects TAD for exposure estimation.
• To propose a novel definition for TAD and identify its collection methodologies.
• To create a comprehensive resource for researchers investigating environmental exposures.

Main Methods:

• Developing a systematic evidence map protocol based on Population-Exposure-Method (PEM) criteria.
• Implementing a detailed search strategy targeting environmental exposure studies.
• Utilizing a codebook and reflexive journaling for iterative methodological refinement and data categorization.

Main Results:

• An open-source database of studies collecting TAD will be produced.
• A systematic evidence map will visually represent patterns, trends, and gaps in TAD collection.
• The findings will highlight how TAD has been used to estimate various environmental exposures.

Conclusions:

• The evidence map and database will serve as valuable tools for environmental health researchers.
• This work will inform future research by identifying prominent themes and specific studies in TAD collection.
• It aims to enhance the rigor and consistency of exposure estimation in environmental health studies.