title: Do air quality targets really represent safe limits for lung cancer risk?
abstract: In order to estimate the lung cancer risk associated to airborne particles, exposure and risk-assessment studies ordinarily use particle mass concentration as dosimetry parameter. Consequently, the corresponding air quality targets are based on this metrics, neglecting the potential impact of ultrafine particles (UFPs) due to their negligible mass. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of air quality targets in protecting Italian non-smoking people from lung cancer risk due to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some heavy metals associated with particle inhalation. A modified risk-assessment scheme was applied to estimate the cancer risk contribution from both sub-micron (mainly UFPs) and super-micron particles. We found a very high lung cancer risk related to the actual target levels due to the contribution of UFPs, in particular from indoor microenvironments. Therefore, as possible actions to reduce the lung cancer risk, we have hypothesized and tested three different scenarios: a) a reduction of the concentration of carcinogenic chemicals condensed onto particles in agreement with the current EU air pollution policy; b) the use of local ventilation systems to mitigate the exposure to cooking-generated particles; c) the improvement of the overall indoor air quality by considering a mechanical ventilation system instead of the widespread natural ventilation in order to increase the air exchange rates. Even with the simultaneous application of specific actions, performed with the best technologies available, the corresponding estimated lifetime lung cancer risk (ELCR) values for the Italian population for the entire life were equal to 1.25×10-4and 1.23×10-4for males and females, respectively, well higher with respect to the maximum tolerable lifetime cancer risk, 1×10-5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, (FR), Italy; International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: buonanno@unicas.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buonanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, (FR), Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morawska
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, (FR), Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovinco
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Querol
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000592:standards*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: ELCR; Lung cancer; Monte Carlo method; Risk analysis; Ultrafine particle exposure