Volatile organic compounds, cancer risk

From the above it can be concluded that the risk for lung cancer induction from chronic indoor exposure to Rn-d is unlikely to be higher than 1.10 4/mSv. in order to understand the magnitude of this risk it has to be emphasized that man can be exposed to a multitude of different hazardous materials in the indoor atmosphere besides Rn-d, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrosamines, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, asbestos and pesticides (Gammage and Kaye, 1985). 

Table IV. Cancer Risk Estimates and Adjusted ADI Calculations for Volatile Organic Compounds...

While the number of particles is important as they are related to health effects, so too is the size, shape, material properties and chemical composition. Chemicals absorbed or adsorbed into the particles may also have different toxicological effects. In addition to carbon particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), indoor air can accumulate environmental tobacco smoke as well as chemicals such as biocides, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (lARC) as carcinogenic (benzene, 1,3-butadiene) (lARC 1995). Since children are the most affected by chronic household exposure, they may be at higher risk of cancer. It was demonstrated a relative increase in leukaemia and lymphoma caused by indoor VOCs as well as by the... 

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