Complex mixtures of air pollutants: Characterizing the cancer risk of polycyclic organic matter

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.93100211· OSTI ID:7026697

Lewtas, J ^[1]

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1. Health Effects Research Lab., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)

Complex mixtures of polycyclic organic matter (POM) are used to illustrate the scientific problems and issues associated with characterizing the comparative risk of related complex mixtures. The complexity of mixtures in which the active components are not well characterized present special challenges, which include identifying the critical components of mixtures, their sources, and the appropriate biomark(s) of exposure and dose; developing the appropriate experimental models for dose-response assessment; species extrapolation; and developing a scientific basis for predicting from one mixture to another. Strategies for addressing these issues include bioassay-directed chemical characterization of bioactive components of complex mixtures, apportionment methods to determine the source of biological activity and risk, DNA adduct methods to determine tissue exposure and target dose of mixtures, and comparative approaches to determining the relative similarity, potency, and risk of complex mixtures. Epidemiological data are available for humans exposed to POM from coke ovens, coal roofing tar, coal smoke, aluminum smelters, and cigarette smoke. These emissions are characterized and compared to POM from automotive emissions (diesel and gasoline), woodstove emissions, residential oil furnace emissions, and ambient air particles. The tumor potency and estimated cancer risks for these POM mixtures ranges over nearly three orders of magnitude. 41 refs., 8 figs.

• OSTI ID: 7026697
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 100; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CARCINOGENESIS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISPERSIONS
HYDROCARBONS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
TOXICITY