DREAM (DeRmal Exposure Assessment Method) is a semi-quantitative method for assessing dermal exposure to chemical or biological agents in epidemiologic and occupational hygiene studies (van Wendel de Joode et al., 2003). The method is based on a conceptual model by Schneider et al. (1999) that provides insight into the routes, distribution, and relative classification of actual and potential dermal exposures. DREAM provides reproducible results for a wide range of tasks involving dermal exposure to liquids, solids and vapors (van Wendel De Joode, van Hemmen, et al., 2005; van Wendel De Joode, Vermeulen, et al., 2005). The method has been adopted as a reference for dermal exposure assessment by the National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work in Spain (2011).
References
Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo. (2011). Dermal exposure to chemical substances: simplified methodology for its determination (NTP 896).https://www.insst.es/documents/94886/328579/896w.pdf/26253c5a-c146-4968-9697-8ce1358e66ba
Schneider, T., Vermeulen, R., Brouwer, D. H., Cherrie, J. W., Kromhout, H., & Fogh, C. L. (1999). Conceptual model for assessment of dermal exposure. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56(11), 765–773. https://doi.org/10.1136/OEM.56.11.765
van Wendel De Joode, B., Brouwer, D. H., Vermeulen, R., Van Hemmen, J. J., Heederik, D., & Kromhout, H. (2003). DREAM: a method for semi-quantitative dermal exposure assessment. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 47(1), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1093/ANNHYG/MEG012
van Wendel De Joode, B., van Hemmen, J. J., Meijster, T., Major, V., London, L., & Kromhout, H. (2005). Reliability of a semi-quantitative method for dermal exposure assessment (DREAM). Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, 15(1), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1038/SJ.JEA.7500369
van Wendel De Joode, B., Vermeulen, R., van Hemmen, J. J., Fransman, W., & Kromhout, H. (2005). Accuracy of a semiquantitative method for Dermal Exposure Assessment (DREAM). Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(9), 623–632. https://doi.org/10.1136/OEM.2004.018564