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Improving Methodologies for Cumulative Risk Assessment: A Case Study of Noncarcinogenic Health Risks from Volatile
Andrea A Chiger1,2, Carolyn Gigot1, Ellis S Robinson1
1Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|March 24, 2025
Summary
Traditional cumulative risk assessment (CRA) underestimates health risks. An expanded CRA approach, considering all target organ systems, identified risks in fenceline communities, unlike the traditional method.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Toxicology
- Risk Assessment
Background:
- Cumulative risk assessment (CRA) is crucial for evaluating health risks in vulnerable populations facing pollution.
- Traditional CRA methods are limited, often assessing only the most sensitive organ system per chemical.
- Fenceline and disadvantaged communities experience disproportionate environmental burdens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an expanded approach to CRA that incorporates multi-organ system toxicity.
- To compare the findings of the expanded CRA with the traditional approach using real-world monitoring data.
Main Methods:
- Created a multi-effects toxicity database using data from ATSDR and US EPA.
- Developed a tiering system for prioritizing toxicological and epidemiological data.
- Applied an expanded CRA approach to mobile monitoring data from the SEPA HAP-MAP project.
Main Results:
- The expanded approach included 28 chemicals, compared to 16 in the traditional method.
- Derived toxicity values for 172 chemical-target organ system combinations.
- Identified neurological, renal, respiratory, endocrine, and systemic risks in fenceline communities, which were missed by the traditional approach.
Conclusions:
- Traditional CRA methods underestimate health risks in highly exposed communities.
- The expanded CRA approach provides a more comprehensive assessment of potential health impacts.
- Improved CRA methods are essential for equitable and effective risk management decisions.
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