Limitations, Variability and Uncertainty
These three topics will help you understand the limitations of the study so that you will use the results to answer only those questions for which the study is suitable: Study limitations: Are there any features of the study that limit the kinds of conclusions that might be drawn? Variability: Do these results apply to an individual such as myself? Uncertainty: With what confidence can these results be accepted?
Variability (Do these results apply to
an individual such as myself?). Emissions, air concentrations, exposures
and risks are not the same throughout the U.S., and are not the
same for everyone. Some geographic areas have higher concentrations
than others; there are some periods of time when the concentration
is higher at a given location than at other times. Some individuals
have an exposure and/or risk below the national average, while others
have an exposure and/or risk above the national average. It is necessary,
therefore, to have some idea of how the ambient air concentration,
exposure and risk from air toxics varies throughout the U.S. Such
a process is called a : variability analysis. To learn more about
the variation in ambient air concentration, exposure and risk throughout
the U.S. as predicted by this assessment, follow this link:
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