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Hexavalent Chromium and Lung Cancer in the Chromate Industry: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

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  • Robert M. Park
  • James F. Bena
  • Leslie T. Stayner
  • Randall J. Smith
  • Herman J. Gibb
  • Peter S. J. Lees

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to estimate excess lifetime risk of lung cancer death resulting from occupational exposure to hexavalent‐chromium‐containing dusts and mists. The mortality experience in a previously studied cohort of 2,357 chromate chemical production workers with 122 lung cancer deaths was analyzed with Poisson regression methods. Extensive records of air samples evaluated for water‐soluble total hexavalent chromium were available for the entire employment history of this cohort. Six different models of exposure‐response for hexavalent chromium were evaluated by comparing deviances and inspection of cubic splines. Smoking (pack‐years) imputed from cigarette use at hire was included in the model. Lifetime risks of lung cancer death from exposure to hexavalent chromium (assuming up to 45 years of exposure) were estimated using an actuarial calculation that accounts for competing causes of death. A linear relative rate model gave a good and readily interpretable fit to the data. The estimated rate ratio for 1 mg/m3‐yr of cumulative exposure to hexavalent chromium (as CrO3), with a lag of five years, was RR= 2.44 (95% CI = 1.54–3.83). The excess lifetime risk of lung cancer death from exposure to hexavalent chromium at the current OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) (0.10 mg/m3) was estimated to be 255 per 1,000 (95% CI: 109–416). This estimate is comparable to previous estimates by U.S. EPA, California EPA, and OSHA using different occupational data. Our analysis predicts that current occupational standards for hexavalent chromium permit a lifetime excess risk of dying of lung cancer that exceeds 1 in 10, which is consistent with previous risk assessments.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert M. Park & James F. Bena & Leslie T. Stayner & Randall J. Smith & Herman J. Gibb & Peter S. J. Lees, 2004. "Hexavalent Chromium and Lung Cancer in the Chromate Industry: A Quantitative Risk Assessment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(5), pages 1099-1108, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:24:y:2004:i:5:p:1099-1108
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00512.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert M. Park & Leslie T. Stayner, 2006. "A Search for Thresholds and Other Nonlinearities in the Relationship Between Hexavalent Chromium and Lung Cancer," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 79-88, February.
    2. Zheng Sun & Jiajun Chen, 2018. "Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Pollution at a Rural Industrial Wasteland in an Abandoned Metallurgy Factory in North China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Wushuang Xie & Chi Peng & Hongtao Wang & Weiping Chen, 2017. "Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Various Environmental Media, Crops and Human Hair from a Mining Affected Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, December.

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