Computer assisted, risk-based screening of a mixture of drinking water chemicals
During 1987, EPA Region III sampled raw and treated drinking water at ten locations in Virginia and Pennsylvania to estimate risks to human health associated with water use. Composite samples were taken from water supply intakes in the Roanoke River basin and the lower Susquehanna River in early spring, late spring, and mid-summer, periods in which temperature, flow, and pesticide inputs varied widely. Samples were analyzed for 187 contaminants, including metals, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and polynuclear aromatic compounds. One hundred three substances were detected in at least one water sample. Upper bound lifetime carcinogenic risks and systemic hazard indexes were calculated by computer for each chemical in each sample, assuming ingestion of 2 1 d/sup /minus/1/, 70-kg body weight, and 70-yr lifetime. These carcinogenic risks and hazard indexes were summed to estimate total risk and hazard index for each sample. Sample sums were averaged for each location. Mean upper bound lifetime cancer risk ranged from 8 x 10/sup /minus/5/ to 2 x 10/sup /minus/4/; total systemic hazard index ranged from 0.1 to 0.5. These risk estimates were subject to the following uncertainties: (1) those associated with EPA's use of the linearized multistage low dose extrapolation model for cancer, (2) adjustments for species differences, (3) possible unknown interactions among chemicals, (4) sampling error, and (5) undetected chemicals which may have been present.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia, PA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5881719
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8805159-
- Journal Information:
- Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Trace Subst. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 12; ISSN PUMTA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AROMATICS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONTAMINATION
DISPERSIONS
DRINKING WATER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
MIXTURES
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
PESTICIDES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
USA
VIRGINIA
WATER