Objectives Risk of chronic disease may be governed not only by cumulative levels of exposure but also by dynamic aspects of the exposure history. These dynamic aspects include characteristics of the exposure history itself (such as duration of exposure or time-varying intensities of exposure) as well as aspects of age-related susceptibility. This workshop will provide an overview of methods developed to better understand the dynamic aspects of exposure in epidemiological models.

Method Risk of chronic disease may be governed not only by cumulative levels of exposure but also by dynamic aspects of the exposure history. These dynamic aspects include characteristics of the exposure history itself (such as duration of exposure or time-varying intensities of exposure) as well as aspects of age-related susceptibility. This workshop will provide an overview of methods developed to better understand the dynamic aspects of exposure in epidemiological models.

Results The presentations will provide examples of how such models can offer a richer description of epidemiologic associations. Insights may be important when risk assessments are based on epidemiologic results that assess cumulative exposures without consideration of exposure patterns or age-related susceptibility.

Conclusions Models that encompass dynamic aspects of exposure should be encouraged in risk modelling. Such models may also provide information about biologic pathways of disease, leading to better understanding of (for instance) the impact of metabolic saturation on the observed exposure–response curve, or the natural progression of the disease.