A Monte Carlo analysis of health risks from PCB-contaminated mineral oil transformer fires.
The objective of this study is the estimation of health hazards due to the inhalation of combustion products from accidental mineral oil transformer fires. Calculations of production, dispersion, and subsequent human intake of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) provide us with exposure estimates. PCDFs are believed to be the principal toxic products of the pyrolysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) sometimes found as contaminants in transformer mineral oil. Cancer burdens and birth defect hazard indices are estimated from population data and exposure statistics. Monte Carlo-derived variational factors emphasize the statistics of uncertainty in the estimates of risk parameters. Community health issues are addressed and risks are found to be insignificant.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008899:Mineral Oil; D008954:Models, Biological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants; D008899:Mineral Oil; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls