Abstract
In investigating the health risk from environmental exposure, one is usually confronted with the fact that people are exposed to many chemicals besides the one of interest. Therefore, if the statistical analysis of an association between exposure and disease is to be meaningful, and if the results are to include a quantitative risk estimate, some measure of composite exposure must be developed. The development of such a measure is described in the context of a retrospective cohort study on the effects of exposure to drinking water contaminated with multiple volatile organic compounds. The main problem in developing a composite measure appears to be the lack of standardization in the assessment and presentation of toxicologic parameters. Three of these parameters are discussed: the LD50, the NOEL, and the pulmonary retention rate.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Brown, H. S., Bishop, D. R., and Rowan, C. A., “The Role of Skin Absorption As a Route of Exposure for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Drinking Water,” Am. J. Public Health 75: 479–484 (1984).
Carpenter, C. P., “The Chronic Toxicity of Tetrachloroethylene,” J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 19: 323–326 (1937).
Dallas, C. E., Weir, F. W., Feldman, S., Putcha, L., and Bruckner, J. V., “The Uptake and Disposition of 1,1-Dichloroethylene in Rats During Inhalation Exposure,” Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 68: 140–151 (1983).
Environmental Protection Agency, “Guidelines for the Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Mixtures,” Fed. Reg. 51: 34014–34025 (1986).
Environmental Protection Agency, “Health Assessment Document for 1,1,1Trichloroethane,” Final Report, Office of Research and Development, 1984 (NTIS PB84–183565, EPA 600/8–82–003F).
Environmental Protection Agency, “Health Assessment Document for Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene),” Final Report, Office of Research and Development, 1985 (NTIS PB85–249704, EPA 600/8–82–005F).
Environmental Protection Agency, “Health Assessment Document for Trichloroethylene,” Final Report, Office of Research and Development, 1985 (NTIS PB85–249696, EPA 600/8–82–006F).
Environmental Protection Agency, Draft Criteria Document for Dichloroethylenes, Office of Drinking Water, 1984 (NTIS PB 84–199546).
Freni, S. C., and Phillips, D. L., “Estimation of the Time Component in the Movement of Chemicals in Contaminated Groundwater,” Environ. Health Perspect. 74: 211–221 (1987).
Gottlieb, M. S., Carr, J. K., and Clarkson, J. R., “Drinking Water and Cancer in Louisiana,” Am. J. Epidemiol. 116: 652–667 (1982).
Hoar, S. K., Blair, A., Holmes, F. F., et al.,“Agricultural Herbicide Use and Risk of Lymphoma and Soft-Tissue Sarcoma,” J. Am. Med. Assoc. 256:1141–1147 (1986).
Hofmann, H. Th., Birnstiel, H., and Jobst, P.. “Zur Inhalationtoxicität von 1,1- and 1,2-Dichloroäthan,” Arch. Toxikol. 27: 248–265 (1971).
Kimmerle, G., and Eben, A., “Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicology of Trichloroethylene After Inhalation, I. Experimental Exposure on Rats,” Arch. Toxicol. 30: 115–126 (1973).
Kramer, C. G., Ott, M. C., Fulkerson, J. E., and Hicks, N., “Health of Workers Exposed to 1,1,1-Trichloroethane: A Matched-Pair Study,” Arch. Environ. Health 33: 331–342 (1978).
Lagakos, S. W., Wessen, B. J. and Zelen, M., “An Analysis of Contaminated Well Water and Health Effects in Woburn, Massachusetts,” J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 81: 583–596 (1986).
Lawrence, C. E., and Taylor, P. R., “Empirical Estimation of Exposure in Retrospective Epidemiologic Studies,” in Environmental Epidemiology, F. C. Kopfler and G. F. Craun, Eds., Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan, pp. 239–246 (1986).
McKone, T. E., “Quantifying Personal Indoor Air Exposure to Radon and Volatile Organic Compounds Derived from Tap Water,” Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, Houston, Texas, November 3, 1987.
Moslen, M. T., Reynolds, E. S., and Szabo, S., “Enhancement of the Metabolism and Hepatotoxicity of Trichloroethylene and Perchloroethylene,” Biochem. Pharmacol. 26: 369–375 (1977).
Quast, J. F., Humiston, C. G., Wade, C. E., et al.,“A Chronic Toxicity and Oncogenicity Study in Rats and Subchronic Toxicity Study in Dogs on Ingested Vinylidene Chloride,” Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 3:55–62 (1983).
Smyth, H. F., and Carpenter, C. P., “The Place of the Range Finding Test in the Industrial Laboratory,” J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 26: 269–273 (1944).
Smyth, H. F., and Carpenter, C. P., “Further Experience with the Range Finding Test in the Industrial Laboratory,” J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 30: 63–68 (1948).
Smyth, H. F., Carpenter, C. P., Weil, C. S., et al.,“Range-Finding Toxicity Data: List VII,” Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 30:470–476 (1969).
Takamatsu, M., “Health Hazards in Workers Exposed to Trichloroethylene Vapor, H,” Kumamoto Med. J. 15: 43–54 (1962).
Tuttle, T. C., Wood, G. D., Grether, C. B., et al.,“A Behavioral and Neurological Evaluation of Dry Cleaners Exposed to Perchloroethylene,” DHEW (NIOSH) Publication 77–214, 1977 (NTIS PB 274794).
Zeise, L., Wilson, R., and Crouch, E., “Use of Acute Toxicity to Estimate Carcinogenic Risk,” Risk Analysis 4: 187–270 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Freni, S.C. (1989). An Epidemiologic Approach to Dealing With Multimedia Exposure to Multiple Related Chemicals. In: Bonin, J.J., Stevenson, D.E. (eds) Risk Assessment in Setting National Priorities. Advances in Risk Analysis, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5682-0_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5682-0_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5684-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5682-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive