PREDICTED LUNG-CANCER RISK AMONG MINERS EXPOSED TO DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES

Several quantitative risk assessment models have been published for oc cupational and environmental exposures to diesel exhaust particles (DE P). These risk assessment models are reviewed and applied to predict l ung cancer risks for miners exposed to DEP. The toxicologically based unit risk estimates varied widely (from 2 to 220 X 10(-6) per mu g/m(3 )). The epidemiologically based unit risk estimates were less variable and suggest higher risks (from 100 to 920 X 10(-6) per mu g/m(3)). Th e wide range of risk estimates derived from these analyses reflects th e strong assumptions and large uncertainties underlying these models. All of the models suggest relatively high risks (i.e., >1/1,000) for m iners with long-term exposures greater than 1,000 mu g/m(3). This is n ot surprising, given the fact that miners may be exposed to DEP concen trations similar to those that induced lung cancer in rats and mice, a nd substantially higher than the exposure concentrations in the positi ve epidemiologic studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:207-219, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.(dagger)