Quantitative Assessment of Environmental Pollution by Cancerogenic Substances: One Stage in the Epidemiological Study of Tumours.

In an attempt to study epidemiologically tumours and other diseases arising from the environment, a sample of Moscow passenger transport drivers working in conditions of high atmospheric pollution was investigated. This paper describes that part of the study which concerned the quantitative assessment of the characteristics of various factors in their working environment. The atmosphere in the driving cabins of motor and trolley buses, and some of the factors involved in the organization of drivers' work were investigated. Benzo (a) pyrene was found in all of the samples of air collected in the cabins and levels were higher in motor than in trolley buses. However, when the cumulative benzo (a) pyrene dosage to which the drivers are exposed during an average working life was calculated it was found to be considerably below the maximum acceptable dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]