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EPA PROGRAMS AND THE REGULATION OF CARCINOGENS: METHODS AND PHILOSOPHIES
Citation:
Jackson, M., L. Johnson, J. Kelly, T. Ledeboer, M. Malave, AND J. Siegel. EPA PROGRAMS AND THE REGULATION OF CARCINOGENS: METHODS AND PHILOSOPHIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/9-89/079.
Description:
This report is part of the National Network for Environmental Studies Program conducted under the auspices of the Office of Cooperative Environmental Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a group paper which discusses the manner in which the EPA identifies, assesses risk for, and regulates substances determined to cause cancer in humans. The report is divided into six sections, each considered by the authors to represent a significant component in the process of carcinogen regulation. A review of all six will give the reader an overall perspective of the carcinogen standard-setting process as it is affected by scientific, legal and political influences. First, EPAs statutes: History and Methods of Carcinogen Regulation, presents the history of each law administered by EPA principally as the statute relates to the regulation of substance for carcinogenicity. Second, Toxicoicological Methods; Determining Carcinogenicity, defines cancer from a toxicological standpoint, presents the methods of conducting tests to determine carcinogenicity, and describes the uncertainties inherent in both the procedures and in the interpretation of test results. Third, EPAs Use of Human Exposure Data to Regulate Carcinogens, describes the various types of epidemiologic studies and considers the use of epidemiologic data by EPA to regulate carcinogenic substances. Fourth, EPA Grouping of carcinogens provides an overview of the Agencys system for classifying chemical agents suspected or known to cause cancer. Fifth, Environmental Lawsuits: Challenging the EPAs Carcinogen Regulation, presents a discussion of significant Federal court cases and court decisions which have addressed and influenced attempts by Federal agencies to regulate carcinogens. Finally, the section entitled Factors Affecting EPAs Regulation of Carcinogens proposes seven factors which impact EPAs day-to-day activates regarding carcinogen regulation.