Estimation of Unit Risk for Coke Oven Emissions

Abstract

In 1984, based on epidemiological data on cohorts of coke oven workers, USEPA estimated a unit risk for lung cancer associated with continuous exposure from birth to 1 microgram/m3 of coke oven emissions, of 6.2 x 10(-4). This risk assessment was based on information on the cohorts available through 1966. Follow-up of these cohorts has now been extended to 1982 and, moreover, individual job histories, which were not available in 1984, have been constructed. In this study, lung cancer mortality in these cohorts of coke oven workers with extended follow-up was analyzed using standard techniques of survival analysis and a new approach based on the two stage clonal expansion model of carcinogenesis. The latter approach allows the explicit consideration of detailed patterns of exposure of each individual in the cohort. The analyses used the extended follow-up data through 1982 and the detailed job histories now available. Based on these analyses, the best estimate of unit risk is 1.5 x 10(-4) with 95% confidence interval = 1.2 x 10(-4)-1.8 x 10(-4).

Threshold Regression for Survival Analysis: Modeling Event Times by a Stochastic Process Reaching a Boundary

“…Once a malignant cell is generated, a second statistical model describes progression through stages of active cancer to death (homeostasis, angiogenesis, metastasis, death). The model has been elaborated in a series of works by Moolgavkar, Luebeck and Anderson (1998) and Luebeck et al (1999), and others. The model has been applied, for example, in a study of lung cancer risk posed to Chinese tin miners by arsenic, radon and tobacco exposure (Hazelton et al, 2001).…”

Mechanism for uptake of silica particles by monocytic U937 cells

“…5 Exposure of coke oven workers to carbon particles (CPs) is also associated with development of cancer. 6 The development of these diseases is related to the induction of inflammation in which macrophages play an important role. 7 Particles with diameter up to 10 mm are deposited in the lower airways and alveoli8 where the particles come in contact with the epithelial lining fluid and are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages or taken up by epithelial cells.…”

Elizabeth Anderson: Cancer Risk Assessment Pioneer

“…Below, we have listed some of her papers related to risk analysis that were published in Risk Analysis. (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) In addition, she had other key roles to play in diffusing the idea of risk assessment. She traveled across Europe and Asia for EPA speaking and teaching risk assessment and working with the World Health Organization (WHO).…”