Johnson, J.E. and Kissel, J.C. (1996). "Prevalence
of Dermal Pathway Dominance in Risk Assessment of Contaminated Soils: A
Survey of Superfund Risk Assessments, 1989-1992," Hum. Ecolog.
Risk Assess. 2(2):356-365.
Abstract
Exposure to soil-borne contaminants can occur through ingestion,
inhalation, and/or dermal absorption. A study was undertaken to assess the
relative frequency with which dermal exposures are predicted to pose the
greatest risk attributable to contaminated soils in Superfund risk assessments.
Screening of over 200 risk assessments from the period 1989-1992 resulted
in identification of 37 sites at which projected lifetime excess cancer
risks attributed to dermal contact with soil were greater than the nominal
regulatory threshold of 1E-4. At 19 of these sites, the dermal/soil pathway
is estimated to contribute the largest carcinogenic risk associated with
surface soil contamination, and may therefore drive cleanup of that medium.
At 9 of the sites, the dermal/soil pathway is predicted to present a higher
carcinogenic risk than any other pathway. Chemical contaminant type and
estimates of soil adherence and surface area exposed appear to be the primary
factors that distinguish sties at which dermal/soil pathway carcinogenic
risk estimates are elevated relative to other exposure pathways. Quantification
of exposure parameters, especially those related to behavior, remains a
significant need.
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