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Title: Management of carcinogenic air emissions: a case study of a power plant

Abstract

An adjudicatory hearing to determine the potential adverse effects of the carcinogenic and mutagenic emissions from a diesel power plant at Harvard University was conducted by the Massachusetts environmental agency. Emissions from the plant were characterized through monitoring of fine particles, soluble organic extract and 11 indicator compounds, and comparing them with automotive diesel emissions. Quantitative risk assessment included assessment of the facility's contribution to ambient background and a comparison with emissions from mobile sources. The aggregate risk of cancer associated with 40 years of plant operation was estimated to range between 0 and 4 per 1.66 million people exposed. In 1986 the plant was permitted to operate on the grounds that the risks were not unreasonable. The significance of the decision extends beyond this one case; 1) in its decision the agency focused only on public health issues and disregarded all other social and economic costs or benefits; 2) the agency rejected a zero risk standard for carcinogens by explicitly accepting a small but non-negligible risk as reasonable; 3) the agency did not define an absolute standard of risk acceptability and, therefore, implicitly recognized the attendant uncertainty. The case also illustrates a strong subjective component present in all riskmore » assessments.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Clark Univ., Worcester, MA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5270019
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 38:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; DIESEL FUELS; CARCINOGENESIS; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS; HEALTH HAZARDS; NEOPLASMS; RISK ASSESSMENT; MASSACHUSETTS; DISEASES; FEDERAL REGION I; HAZARDS; NORTH AMERICA; PATHOGENESIS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; POWER PLANTS; THERMAL POWER PLANTS; USA; 016000* - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Health & Safety; 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Brown, H S. Management of carcinogenic air emissions: a case study of a power plant. United States: N. p., 1988. Web. doi:10.1080/08940630.1988.10466347.
Brown, H S. Management of carcinogenic air emissions: a case study of a power plant. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1988.10466347
Brown, H S. 1988. "Management of carcinogenic air emissions: a case study of a power plant". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1988.10466347.
@article{osti_5270019,
title = {Management of carcinogenic air emissions: a case study of a power plant},
author = {Brown, H S},
abstractNote = {An adjudicatory hearing to determine the potential adverse effects of the carcinogenic and mutagenic emissions from a diesel power plant at Harvard University was conducted by the Massachusetts environmental agency. Emissions from the plant were characterized through monitoring of fine particles, soluble organic extract and 11 indicator compounds, and comparing them with automotive diesel emissions. Quantitative risk assessment included assessment of the facility's contribution to ambient background and a comparison with emissions from mobile sources. The aggregate risk of cancer associated with 40 years of plant operation was estimated to range between 0 and 4 per 1.66 million people exposed. In 1986 the plant was permitted to operate on the grounds that the risks were not unreasonable. The significance of the decision extends beyond this one case; 1) in its decision the agency focused only on public health issues and disregarded all other social and economic costs or benefits; 2) the agency rejected a zero risk standard for carcinogens by explicitly accepting a small but non-negligible risk as reasonable; 3) the agency did not define an absolute standard of risk acceptability and, therefore, implicitly recognized the attendant uncertainty. The case also illustrates a strong subjective component present in all risk assessments.},
doi = {10.1080/08940630.1988.10466347},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5270019}, journal = {J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 38:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}