and low consumption levels, as well as the average level of
consumption. Pesticide residue levels present in food will also
vary, depending on several variables including application
practices in different regions, time that has elapsed since
application, degradation during transportation and storage of
food, and the manner in which food is prepared by the consumer.
Thus, both food consumption and pesticide residue data are
characterized not by a single value but, rather, by a broad
distribution reflecting high, low, and average values. The
variation in food consumption and residue data produces
considerable variation in dietary exposure of pesticides by
infants and children. This can be represented by a distribution
of exposures across individuals within a particular age group.
The distribution of dietary exposures is determined by the
distribution of food consumption levels and the distribution of
pesticide residues in food. If both the distribution of food
consumption and the distribution of residue levels