Study Assesses Risk of Toxic Chemicals

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASHINGTON, May 31 (AP) — At least two-thirds of Americans live in areas where toxic chemicals pose an elevated cancer risk, the Environmental Protection Agency reported today.

The findings are contained in a long-awaited assessment the agency conducted of health risks from 32 toxic chemicals. The study is based on 1996 emissions data subjected to several years of internal analysis.

The assessment concluded that the accumulated exposure to the various toxic chemicals can be expected to cause 10 additional cancers over a lifetime of exposure for every 1 million people, or a 10 in 1 million cancer risk. These risks can be found across virtually the entire country, said the study, which was reviewed by outside scientists.

It added that 20 million people live in areas where the risks are even higher, a risk of 100 additional lifetime cancers per 1 million people.

Environmentalists said the study provides clear evidence that tougher measures are needed to reduce releases of toxic chemicals — including benzene, mercury, formaldehyde and other carcinogens — from automobiles, power plants and industrial sources. Cars and trucks contribute substantially to cancer-causing air toxins, the study said.