Integrated Quantitative Cancer Risk Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic

Abstract

This paper attempts to make an integrated risk assessment of arsenic, using data on humans exposed to arsenic via inhalation and ingestion. he data useful for making an integrated analysis and data gaps are discussed. rsenic provides a rare opportunity to compare the cancer risk to humans due to exposure to a metal carcinogen via inhalation and ingestion. ur assessment suggests that the elevated lung cancer mortality observed in the population of the blackfoot disease endemic areas is consistent with that observed in copper smelter workers who, presumably, were exposed to arsenic via inhalation. e also speculate, on the basis of overall information on arsenic, that smelter workers could have an elevated cancer mortality in sites other than the lung, contrary to the usual assumption that lung tissue is the only target tissue for cancer when exposure is via inhalation.

Citation

Chen, C. AND C. Chen. Integrated Quantitative Cancer Risk Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-89/193 (NTIS PB90130683).

Additional Information

Presented at the Symposium on Health Risk Assessment Group, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 0460

• INTEGRATED QUANTITATIVE CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT OF INORGANIC ARSENIC