IARC classifies carbon black and titanium dioxide as “possibly
carcinogenic to humans,” based on sufficient evidence in laboratory
studies but for which studies of people exposed have not been conducted. The IARC working group declined to limit the classification
of titanium dioxide to ultrafine, implicitly rejecting the lung overload hypothesis.
Mechanistic hypotheses that minimize human risk compared with
laboratory animals may legitimately be applied in the exposure-response phase of risk assessment but should not be used to preclude
a range of potency estimates. However, it’s legitimate to question
where these hypotheses are coming from and whether public health
agencies are funding research that explores competing hypotheses,
which may lead to increased estimates of low-dose potency.
Meanwhile, practitioners should take to heart the lesson that certain materials thought to be inert or “safe” have turned out to have
considerable toxic potential, and even considerable potency, when
subjected to appropriate bioassay testing. The reference concentrations for respirable PSLT-nuisance particulate should be closer to
100 µg/m3 than to the 5,000 µg/m3 enforced by OSHA.
Franklin Mirer, PhD, CIH, is a professor in the Environmental and Occupational Health
SciencesUrbanPublicHealthProgramatHunterCollegeSchoolofHealthSciences
inNewYork.Hecanbereachedat(212) 481-7651orfmirer@hunter.cuny.edu.
Your Laboratory Guide to Cleaner, Healthier Air
Fli XeXcpj`j k\Z_efcf^p cfZXk\j Xe[
`[\ek`Ô\j ZfekXd`eXk`fe jfliZ\j#
Xccfn`e^ pfl kf Zi\Xk\ Xe XZk`fe gcXe kf
_\cg pfli Zljkfd\ij i\dfm\ k_\ jfliZ\j
Xe[ `dgifm\ k_\`i X`i hlXc`kp% Fecp n_\e
k_\ gif Yc\d `j `[\ek`Ô\[ ZXe pfl
Y\^`e kf i\jfcm\ `k%
I\cp fe Gi`jd 8eXcpk`ZXc K\Z_efcf^`\j kf
^l`[\ pfl kfnXi[j Zc\Xe\i# _\Xck_`\i X`i%
The Consultative Air Testing Laboratory
K\c10/0%..)%,'// gi`jd7gXk`$X`i%Zfd nnn%gXk`$X`i%Zfd
Circle Fax-back Card No. 24
AIHce20 I I
INNOVATEINTEGRATEINSPIRE
PORTLAND, OR MAY 14–19, 2011
aihce2011.org
AIHce On Demand
Your Resource for Digitally Captured AIHce Content and Your Best AIHce Value!
Ever Wish you could be in 5 places at once?
Now you can—and the value of your attendance at AIHce2011 just increased by 500%!
NEW! Register for AIHce 2011 and get the complete conference – not just the sessions you attend. AIHce On Demand (a
$225 value) is included in your premium registration!
Access all digitally captured AIHce sessions online as multimedia recreations that include speaker presentations
synched to PowerPoint slides.
Attend the Expo, meetings and social events worry-free,
without missing important session content.
co-sponsored by
AIHA® & ACGIH®
AIHce On Demand is included in
the Premium Registration package.
Look for this option when you
register online.
+ Select sessions on site, knowing you won’t pay more to
hear the sessions you missed.
+ Review favorite sessions you attended and would like to
revisit.
+ Conveniently receive your AIHce On Demand access code
by email after AIHce.
+ Download sessions to your computer or laptop in MP3 format to your iPod or iPad for portable listening/viewing.
+ No need to choose between several great sessions – you
get them all!
+ Best of all, you receive these benefits for just $50 as part of
Premium Registration.
Hurry! Advance Registration ends April 27.
Register today at www.aihce2011.org
