Comparing the lung cancer burden of ambient particulate matter using scenarios of air quality standards versus acceptable risk levels.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Ambient particulate matter (PM) is regulated with science-based air quality standards, whereas carcinogens are regulated with a number of "acceptable" cases. Given that PM is also carcinogenic, we identify differences between approaches. METHODS:We assessed the lung cancer deaths for Switzerland attributable to exposure to PM up to 10 µm (PM10) and to five particle-bound carcinogens. For PM10, we used an epidemiological approach based on relative risks with four exposure scenarios compared to two counterfactual concentrations. For carcinogens, we used a toxicological approach based on unit risks with four exposure scenarios. RESULTS:The lung cancer burden using concentrations from 2010 was 10-14 times larger for PM10 than for the five carcinogens. However, the burden depends on

SUBMITTER: Castro A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7049545 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature