An assessment and quantitative uncertainty analysis of the health risks to workers exposed to chromium contaminated soils
- ChemRisk Division, McLaren/Hart Environmental, Alameda, CA (United States)
Millions of tons of chromite-ore processing residue have been used as fill in various locations in Northern New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. The primary toxicants in the residue are trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The hazard posed by Cr(III) is negligible due to its low acute and chronic toxicity. In contrast, Cr(VI) is considered a inhalation human carcinogen at high concentrations. Approximately 40 commercial and industrial properties in Northern New Jersey have been identified as containing chromite ore processing residue in the soil. The arithmetic mean and geometric mean concentrations of total chromium in soil were 977 and 359 mg/kg, respectively. The data were log-normal distributed. The arithmetic mean and geometric mean concentrations of Cr(VI) in surface soil were 37.6 and 3.1 mg/kg, respectively. The data could not be fit to a standard distribution, likely due to the large number of samples with concentrations below the method detection limit (65%). Dose was calculated for each exposure route using a Monte Carlo statistical simulation. Probability distributions of most exposure parameters were incorporated into the analyses to predict the range and probability of uptake for persons in the exposed population. The exposure parameter distributions included in this assessment are: the concentrations of Cr(VI) and total chromium in air and soil, fraction of the year when suspension of airborne soil particulates is likely to occur due to weather conditions, fraction of Cr(VI) in air which is respirable (less than 10 microns), soil loading rate on skin, occupational tenure, and body weight. The techniques used in this assessment are applicable for evaluating the human health risks posed by most industrial sites having contaminated soil.
- OSTI ID:
- 5935500
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Industrial Health; (United States), Journal Name: Toxicology and Industrial Health; (United States) Vol. 7:3; ISSN TIHEE; ISSN 0748-2337
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CARCINOGENESIS
CHROMIUM
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
LAND POLLUTION
MAMMALS
MAN
METALS
MONITORING
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEW JERSEY
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PATHOGENESIS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
PROBABILITY
RISK ASSESSMENT
SKIN ABSORPTION
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
USA
VERTEBRATES