Keywords
Source Attribution
Spatial Gradients
Biomarkers
Mixtures
Causal Inference
Abstract
This review examines a shared methodological problem in trace-element exposure assessment and transport and material exposure: how evidence from cord-blood trace-element biomonitoring linked to preterm-birth risk can be placed in analytical dialogue with microenvironmental VOC measurement and short-term health assessment across transit modes without erasing differences in scale, assumptions, or intended use. A structured reading of two target studies and 12 verified companion references is conducted across five lenses: source attribution, spatial gradients, biomarkers, mixtures, causal inference. Emphasis is placed on the provenance of evidence, the comparability of baselines, and the consequences of alternative explanations. Comparison reveals recurring trade-offs among source attribution, spatial gradients, and biomarkers. These trade-offs do not support a universal ranking; instead, they identify the operating envelope within which each method remains credible and the perturbations most likely to expose fragile conclusions. On this basis, the review proposes an auditable pathway from focal mechanism to application claim, with explicit checkpoints for calibration, external validity, and responsible interpretation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tanner Fowler, Troy Mercer, Wade Benson (Author)