Every exposure-response function (ERF) or dose-response function (DRF), respectively, is defined by the effect, the pollutant causing the damage, the exposure pathway, the unit of exposure, the additional risk per person, the time of exposure that causes it, the population group for which the risk is increasing and the damamages occuring. In addition to morbidity endpoints comparable to each other as well as to a reduction in life expectancy, the years of life lived with a disability (YLD) weighted by the disability's severity are given.

For example, ERF number 17 describes IQ points loss of children caused by exposure of lead via inhalation. One additional µg/m³ causes an additional risk of 10% per person, that is exposed to it for 5 years, but only for children (20% of population). Thus, if in a certain grid cell 500 people are living, it can be assumed that per additional µg/m³ of lead there will be 500 * 0.1 / 5 * 0.2 = 20 IQ points lost, every year. To assign values to the damages, 8.600 € per IQ point are used, respectively 40.000 € per YLL and YLD. The detailed report on ERFs/DRFs can be downloaded here.