The document characterizes the potential cancer hazard to populations residing near sulfur mustard incineration facilities while the incineration is taking place. The carcinogenicity of sulfur mustard is reviewed briefly to show what evidence has lead to the previously-accepted conclusion that sulfur mustard is a known human carcinogen. Two approaches are taken to estimate the upper-bound lifetime cancer risk per unit air concentration. The first approach is to analyze the two sulfur mustard chronic toxicity experiments in Sprague-Dawley rats reported by McNamara, et al. (1975). The second approach is to evaluate and then combine two relative potency estimates: (1) the strain A mouse lung adenoma response to the injection of sulfur mustard compared to the same response to injected 3-methyl cholanthrene as measured in two separate experiments in a relatively narrow time period, and (2) the strain A mouse lung adenoma response to 3-methyl cholanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the same experiment. The conclusion is that the upper-bound individual and population risks are negligible.

"Human Health Assessment Group, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development." "July 1991." "EPA/600/8-91/053." Includes bibliographical references.