Toxicologic Assessment of the Army's Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Dispersion Tests

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. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary Introduction Input From the Public Toxicity and Related Data on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Toxicity and Related Data on Selected Cadmium Compounds Exposure Assessment Risk Characterization of Exposures to Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Scientific Feasibility of Epidemiologic Study Conclusions and Recommendations References A: Historical Background of the U. S. Biological Warfare Program B: Summary of Doses and Concentrations of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Particles from the Army's Dispersion Tests C: Correspondence from the Army D: Interaction of Zinc and Cadmium and Toxicity of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Activators E: Public Meeting Agendas F: Sampling and Analytic Methods for Zinc Cadmium Sulfide G: Review of AEHA Risk Assessment Reports on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide H: Review of EPA, ATSDR, and CDC Comments on the Army's Risk Assessment Reports on Zinc Cadmium Sulfide I: Cadmium Exposure Assessment, Transport, and Environment Fate Glossary