Models of exposure for use in epidemiological studies of air pollution health impacts

Observational epidemiological studies have had an important role in understanding the public health impacts of air pollution. In such studies, accurate assessment of exposure remains a major challenges, especially in studies involving large populations. Here we review state-of-the-art approaches to assessment of population exposure in epidemiological studies with a focus on approaches applied in the Border Air Quality Study (www.cher.ubc.ca\baqs.htm). The strengths and limitations of these methods are discussed and future research needs identified.