During the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. Army conducted atmospheric dispersion tests in many American cities using fluorescent particles of zinc cadmium sulfide (ZnCdS) to develop and verify meteorological models to estimate the dispersal of aerosols. Upon learning of the tests, many citizens and some public health officials in the affected cities raised concerns about the health consequences of the tests. This book assesses the public health effects of the Army's tests, including the toxicity of ZnCdS, the toxicity of surrogate cadmium compounds, the environmental fate of ZnCdS, the extent of public exposures from the dispersion tests, and the risks of such exposures.

Contents

• SUBCOMMITTEE ON ZINC CADMIUM SULFIDE
• COMMITTEE ON TOXICOLOGY
• BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• COMMISSION ON LIFE SCIENCES
• OTHER RECENT REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• OTHER RECENT REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON TOXICOLOGY
• [The National Academies]
• Preface
• Summary
• 1. Introduction
  • ZnCdS Dispersion Tests
  • Public Concern in Response to ZnCdS Dispersion Tests
  • Tasks of the Subcommittee
  • Sources of Data
  • Structure of the Report
• 2. Input from the Public
  • Nature of Comments
  • Specific Health Problems
  • Conclusions
• 3. Toxicity and Related Data on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
  • Physical and Chemical Properties
  • Toxicokinetics and Bioavailability of ZnCdS: Availability of Cadmium from ZnCdS
  • Toxicity
  • Implications of Variable Composition
  • Conclusions and Recommendations
• 4. Toxicity and Related Data on Selected Cadmium Compounds
  • Physical and Chemical Properties of Cadmium Compounds
  • Toxicokinetics of Cadmium Compounds
  • Toxicity of Cadmium Compounds
  • Carcinogenicity of Cadmium Compounds
  • Conclusions
• 5. Exposure Assessment
  • Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
  • Cadmium
  • Conclusions
• 6. Risk Characterization of Exposures to Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
  • Risk Assessment for Noncancer Health Effects
  • Risk Assessment for Cancer
  • Lung-Cancer Potency of Cadmium
  • Lung-Cancer Risk Estimates
  • Conclusions
• 7. Scientific Feasibility of Epidemiologic Study
  • Nature of Epidemiologic Investigations
  • Key Methodologic Issues
  • Types of Epidemiologic Studies
  • Conclusions
• 8. Conclusions and Recommendations
  • Input from the Public
  • Toxicity and Related Data on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
  • Toxicity and Related Data on Selected Cadmium Compounds
  • Exposure Assessment
  • Risk Assessment of ZnCdS Exposures
  • Feasibility of Epidemiologic Study
  • Recommendations
• References
• Appendix A Historical Background of the U.S. Biologic-Warfare Program
• Appendix B Summary of Doses and Concentrations of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Particles from the Army's Dispersion Tests
• Appendix C Correspondence from the Army
• Appendix D Interaction of Zinc and Cadmium and Toxicity of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Activators
• Appendix E Public Meeting Agendas
• Appendix F Sampling and Analytic Methods for Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
• Appendix G Review of AEHA Risk-Assessment Reports on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
• Appendix H Review of EPA, ATSDR, And CDC Comments on the Army's Risk-Assessment Reports on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide
• Appendix I Cadmium Exposure Assessment, Transport, and Environment Fate
• Glossary

The project was supported by contract DAMD 17-89-C-9086 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Army. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.