Health risk of combustion products: toxicological considerations

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2001-02, Vol.42 (5), p.473-479
• Main Author: Neumann, H.-G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - toxicity; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biomonitoring; Carcinogenicity Tests; Combustion and energy production; Diesel exhaust; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Gasoline; Hazardous Substances - toxicity; Hot Temperature; Humans; Nitroarenes; Occupational Exposure; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Risk Assessment; Risk characterization
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00219-8

Combustion of organic material produces an almost uncountable number of products among which are many chemicals known to have toxic properties. A pertinent example is the diesel engine emission. There is concern about the possible health effects and we would like to know what risk is associated with the exposure. If risk is defined as the probability that a certain health effect occurs within a defined time span or as a result of a certain strain (Royal Society Study Group) – and it is important to emphasize the quantitative aspect of this definition – we must admit that we do not know a good answer. The example of diesel exhaust is used to demonstrate the toxicological approach to risk characterization in general and the possible improvement of exposure assessment with nitroarenes as indicators for environmental contaminations in particular.