Public health implications of hazardous waste sites: Findings, assessment and research

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 34; no. 11; pp. 1131 - 1138
• Main Authors: De Rosa, C.T., Johnson, B.L., Fay, M., Hansen, H., Mumtaz, M.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.1996; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Environmental Exposure; Environmental pollutants toxicology; General aspects; Hazardous Substances - adverse effects; Hazardous Substances - toxicity; Hazardous Waste - adverse effects; Humans; Medical sciences; Public Health - standards; Rats; Research Design - standards; Risk Assessment; Toxicology; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency; United States; North America; America; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; National Priorities List; HWS; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; Hazardous Waste Sites; Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; NPL; CERCLA; Fiscal Year; FY; ATSDR; EPA; NIEHS; Environmental Protection Agency; OTA; Office of Technology Assessment; Human; Evaluation; Sanitary landfill; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Dangerous product; Risk; Wastes; Mixture; Public health
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(97)00084-7

In this paper we present an overview of the chemicals released from hazardous waste sites (HWS) and some of the mixtures of substances that have been released into environmental media. We describe how this information can be used to assess the public health hazard of releases of chemical mixtures from waste sites. Wherever possible, research on chemical mixtures should use chemical mixtures actually identified in, or representative of, mixtures in environmental media. A narrative, weight-of-evidence approach to characterize the toxicity of mixtures that incorporates mechanistic insights on chemical interactions is described. The utility of this information in the context of risk analysis and public health practice is discussed.