Public health and hazardous wastes / Committee on Environmental Epidemiology, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Environmental Epidemiology.

Series:

Environmental epidemiology ; v.1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Environmental health.

Epidemiology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (296 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1991.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The amount of hazardous waste in the United States has been estimated at 275 million metric tons in licensed sites alone. Is the health of Americans at risk from exposure to this toxic material? This volume, the first of several on environmental epidemiology, reviews the available evidence and makes recommendations for filling gaps in data and improving health assessments. The book explores: Whether researchers can infer health hazards from available data. The results of substantial state and federal programs on hazardous waste dangers. The book presents the results of studies of hazardous wastes in the air, water, soil, and food and examines the potential of biological markers in health risk assessment. The data and recommendations in this volume will be of immediate use to toxicologists, environmental health professionals, epidemiologists, and other biologists.

Contents:

Environmental Epidemiology

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Summary

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT

Section One: Public Health And Hazardous Wastes: The Context

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: State and Federal Context for Environmental Epidemiology of Hazardous Wastes

Chapter 3: Dimensions of the Problem: Exposure Assessment

Section Two: Hazardous Wastes In Air, Water, Soil, And Food

Biologic Markers

Chapter 4: Air Exposures

Chapter 5: Domestic Water Consumption

Chapter 6: Soil and Food as Potential Sources of Exposure at Hazardous Waste Sites

Chapter 7: Biologic Markers in Studies of Hazardous-Waste Sites

CONCLUSIONS

Section One Public Health and Hazardous Wastes: The Context

1 Introduction

ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiologic Research

Causal Inference

Statistical Significance

Causation In Epidemiology

Strength of the Association

Specificity of the Association

Consistency of the Association

Temporality

Biologic Gradient or Relationship Between Estimated Exposure and Disease

Effects of the Removal of a Suspected Cause

Biological Plausibility

CHALLENGES IN THE STUDY OF HAZARDOUS-WASTE SITES

Historical Context Of The Study

Agency For Toxic Substances And Disease Registry

OVERVIEW OF THIS VOLUME

References

2 State and Federal Context for Environmental Epidemiology of Hazardous Wastes

FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS

Hazardous-Waste Site Evaluation And Remediation

Preremedial Process

Remedial Process

Development and Screening of Alternatives

DISTRIBUTION OF EXPOSURE

Universe Of Potential Exposures

CHARACTERIZATION OF EXPOSURE

Preremediation Phase

Remediation Phase

Deferral Of Sites And Nfrap Designation

FEDERAL POLICIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

STATE PROGRAMS.

A REVISED FORM OF INITIAL SITE ASSESSMENT

CONCLUSION

3 Dimensions of the Problem: Exposure Assessment

TOXIC-CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AT WASTE SITES

Hazardous-Waste Sites

Unidentified Or Uncharacterized Contaminants

Nonpoint Sources

ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF EXPOSURE

Routes Of Exposure

Measurement Of Exposure

Limitations Of Data On Exposure

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT IN SPECIFIC EPIDEMIOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS

Woburn, Massachusetts

Fresno County, California

Santa Clara County, California

Mccoll Site, Fullerton, California

Stringfellow Site, Glen Avon, California

Lowell, Massachusetts

Hamilton, Ontario

Love Canal, New York

County Of Residence As Surrogate

Other Studies Of Contaminated Drinking Water

APPENDIX 3-A

APPENDIX 3-B

Section Two Hazardous Wastes in Air, Water, Soil, and Food

4 Air Exposures

MORTALITY STUDIES

Longitudinal Analysis

CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES OF MORTALITY

CHRONIC MORBIDITY STUDIES

Cross-Sectional Studies Of Morbidity

Community Studies

Individual Studies

ACUTE MORBIDITY STUDIES

Diary Studies

Population-Based Studies

Large Data Bank Analyses

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Sick Building Syndrome

Asthma And Other Respiratory Problems

Monitoring Of Air Pollutants

5 Domestic Water Consumption

THMS AND OTHER WATER QUALITY VARIABLES

TOXIC DUMP SITE EXPOSURES

Cancer As The End Point

ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES

OTHER HEALTH END POINTS

6 Soil and Food as Potential Sources of Exposure at Hazardous-Waste Sites

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE THROUGH FISH AND OTHER FOODS

Mercury Contamination

Cadmium Contamination

DDT

Dioxin

PCBs

Exposure To PCBs Through Other Routes.

DIRECT EXPOSURE FROM DUMPS

Arsenic

Lead Exposure

Mixed Chemical Exposure

DETECTION OF CONTAMINANTS

Pesticide Contamination Of Food

Animals As Sentinels

7 Biologic Markers in Studies of Hazardous-Waste Sites

TYPES OF MARKERS

USE OF BIOLOGIC MARKERS IN STUDIES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Biologic Monitoring Of Hazardous-Waste And Other Workers

General Environmental And Occupational Health Research

Goal Of Biologic Monitoring Studies

VALIDATION

MARKERS OF EXPOSURE, EFFECT, AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

DNA And Protein Adducts, Markers Of Exposure

Immune-System Markers Of Effect

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Marker Of Susceptibility

ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES

8 General Conclusions

STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTRAINTS

PROBLEMS OF EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

AIR POLLUTION FROM HAZARDOUS WASTES

DOMESTIC WATER CONTAMINATED WITH HAZARDOUS WASTES

SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH HAZARDOUS WASTES

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610203727

9781280203725

1280203722

9780309537582

0309537584

9780585020174

0585020175

OCLC:

319031795