UPPER-BOUND QUANTITATIVE CANCER RISK ESTIMATES FOR POPULATION ADJACENT TO SULFUR MUSTARD INCINERATION FACILITIES

Abstract

This document characterizes the potential cancer hazard to populations residing near sulfur mustard incineration facilities while the incineration is taking place. he carcinogenicity of sulfur mustard is reviewed briefly to show what evidence has lead to the previously-accepted conclusion that sulfur mustard is a known human carcinogen. wo approaches are taken to estimate the upper-bound lifetime cancer risk per unit air concentration. he first approach is to analyze the two sulfur mustard chronic toxicity experiments in Sprague-Dawley rats reported by McNamara, et al. (1975). he second approach is to evaluate and then combine two relative potency estimates: a) the strain A mouse lung adenoma response to the injection of sulfur mustard compared to the same response to injected 3-methyl cholanthrene as measured in two separate experiments in a relatively narrow time period and b) the strain A mouse lung adenoma response to 3-methyl cholanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the same experiment. hese two relative potency ratios are multiplied together to give the potency of sulfur mustard relative to BaP and then multiplied by the previously estimated inhalation unit risk for BaP to give an upper-bound air unit risk estimate for sulfur mustard. he two approaches agree within a factor of three. he population risk estimate is then obtained by combining this unit risk with the estimated maximum fence line air concentration estimated from air dispersion modeling of the expected incinerator emissions. he conclusion is that the upper-bound individual and population risks are negligible.

Citation

Koppikar, A., R. McGaughy, AND L. Rhomberg. UPPER-BOUND QUANTITATIVE CANCER RISK ESTIMATES FOR POPULATION ADJACENT TO SULFUR MUSTARD INCINERATION FACILITIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-91/053 (NTIS PB92137207).

• UPPER-BOUND QUANTITATIVE CANCER RISK ESTIMATES FOR POPULATION ADJACENT TO SULFUR MUSTARD INCINERATION FACILITIES