Assessment of Cancer Risks for Recreational Populations Exposed to PAH-Contaminated Sediments and Biota in New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary: A Probabilistic Approach. L. M. Shor, K. J. Rockne, D. S. Kosson, and S. Erdal; Vanderbilt University, and Rutgers University
Piles Creek is an intertidal stream in the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary. For decades Piles Creek and the surrounding waters have been pollutant by a variety of sources from their industrialized environs. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in Piles Creek sediments range between 30 and 200 mg/kg dry sediment (sum of 16 EPA priority pollutant PAHs). Observations made while collecting samples from the site and surveys of the local people suggest recreational populations such as crabbers may be at risk for developing cancer. This study characterizes the health risks to the recreational populations as a result of potential exposure to PAH-contaminated sediment and indigenous biota. We employed deterministic and probabilistic techniques to estimate potential exposures and excess cancer risks associated with the following exposure pathways: i) incidental ingestion of sediments; ii) dermal contact with sediments; and iii) consumption of shellfish from Piles Creek. The exposure concentration in biota was calculated using literature-based bioaccumulation factors (BAF). Deterministic risk estimates were performed to obtain the reasonable maximum estimate (RME) and central tendency estimate (CTE), to characterize the cumulative PAH exposure. Probabilistic cancer risk estimates at the 95th and 50th percentiles were compared with the RME and CTE point estimates from the deterministic approach. The results indicate that consumption of shellfish is the exposure pathway of concern. Probabilistic risk estimates use more refined exposure information than the deterministic approach, thus we are able to propose more-informed risk management alternatives to protect the at-risk populations.
Go to . . .
2000 SRA Annual Meeting Table of Contents
2000 SRA Annual Meeting Author Index
Main Abstracts Menu Page
RiskWorld Home Page