Symposium ´Urban Air Pollution in Russia´

Abstract

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Objectives. This research estimates the impact of ambient concentrations of cadmium chromium on the risk of excess lifetime cancer mortality in three urban areas of the Russian Federation (Moscow, Saratov, and Samara).

Methods. Ambient air monitoring data for cadmium collected by the Rosgidromet (Russian Weather Service) and national mortality statistics collected by MZ (Russian Ministry of Health) in 1993 are used to assess the risk of cancer deaths attributable to exposure to that hazardous air pollutant.

Results. The analysis indicates that elevated atmospheric concentrations of cadmium may cause up to 0.27 to 13.67 premature cancer deaths/year/106 people. The order of magnitude difference in the two unit risk estimates used for this analysis (EPA =1.8 x 10–3 per µg/m3 and Takenaka et al. = 9.2 x 10–2 per µg/m3) inevitably introduce uncertainty into the accuracy of any estimate of annual cancer-related mortality attributable to ambient cadmium concentrations.

Conclusions. The results of this analysis underscore the importance of developing reasonably precise estimates of exposure to cadmium in order to accurately estimate and limit the risk of cancer mortality associated with exposure to ambient concentrations of that hazardous air pollutant.