Turner, Michelle C.Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.Anderson, KimBalshaw, DavidCui, YuxiaDunton, GenevieveHoppin, Jane A.Koutrakis, PetrosJerrett, Michael2025-01-202025-01-202017Turner MC, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Anderson K, Balshaw D, Cui Y, Dunton G, et al. Assessing the exposome with external measures: commentary on the state of the science and research recommendations. Annu Rev Public Health. 2017 Mar 20;38(1):215-39. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-082516-0128020163-7525http://hdl.handle.net/10230/69188The exposome comprises all environmental exposures that a person experiences from conception throughout the life course. Here we review the state of the science for assessing external exposures within the exposome. This article reviews (a) categories of exposures that can be assessed externally, (b) the current state of the science in external exposure assessment, (c) current tools available for external exposure assessment, and (d) priority research needs. We describe major scientific and technological advances that inform external assessment of the exposome, including geographic information systems; remote sensing; global positioning system and geolocation technologies; portable and personal sensing, including smartphone-based sensors and assessments; and self-reported questionnaire assessments, which increasingly rely on Internet-based platforms. We also discuss priority research needs related to methodological and technological improvement, data analysis and interpretation, data sharing, and other practical considerations, including improved assessment of exposure variability as well as exposure in multiple, critical life stages.application/pdfengCopyright © 2017 Annual Reviews. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC-BY-SA) International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium and any derivative work is made available under the same, similar, or a compatible license. See credit lines of images or other third-party material in this article for license information.info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-082516-012802ExposomeExternal exposuresGeographic information systemsRemote sensingGlobal positioning systemsSmartphonesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess