Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Download
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
625840
Reference Type
Technical Report
Subtype
EPA Report
Title
Health effects assessment for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency :: U.S. EPA
Year
1984
Publisher
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Report Number
EPA/540/1-86/013
Volume
EPA
Issue
1984
Page Numbers
540-541
Number of Pages
61
Language
English
Abstract
The major issue of the PAH risk assessment is the potential carcinogenicity of these compounds. There are limited data available which can be used for quantitative risk assessment, however, this does not imply that there are not adequate qualitative data to consider many of the members of this class as animal carcinogens. In addition, PAH containing mixtures are documented to contribute to increased incidence of cancer in the human population. The contribution of individual chemical species to the carcinogenic potency of these mixtures and the interactions of various components cannot be adequately addressed at present. The one PAH, benzo(a)pyrene for which adequate dose-response data following exposure by appropriate routes (inhalation, oral) are available has been used to develop a cancer-based risk assessment for PAHs. Since data indicate that benzo(a)pyrene is one of the most potent carcinogens of the PAHs tested, it is suggested that cumulative exposures to mixtures containing PAH concentrations should result in a risk that is less than that predicted for benzo(a)pyrene alone. However, it should be kept in mind that many of the PAHs are still inadequately characterized in terms of their carcinogenic potential; that interactions of constituents of mixtures are poorly defined; and that potency ranking has been done using mouse skin exposure data (data for other routes from which potency comparisons could be made are not available). Using data for stomach tumors in mice following oral exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, a q1* of 11.53 (mg/kg/day)-2 was computed for oral exposure. Similarly, using data on incidence of respiratory tumors in hamsters exposed to benzo(a)pyrene by inhalation exposure, as q1* of 6.11 (mg/kg/day)- 2 was derived.
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity