Several quantitative risk assessment models have been published for occupational and environmental exposures to diesel exhaust particles (DEP). These risk assessment models are reviewed and applied to predict lung cancer risks for miners exposed to DEP. The toxicologically based unit risk estimates varied widely (from 2 to 220 ? 10-6 per g/m3). The epidemiologically based unit risk estimates were less variable and suggest higher risks (from 100 to 920 ? 10-6 per g/m3). The wide range of risk estimates derived from these analyses reflects the strong assumptions and large uncertainties underlying these models. All of the models suggest relatively high risks (i.e., >1/1,000) for miners with long-term exposures greater than 1,000 g/m3. This is not surprising, given the fact that miners may be exposed to DEP concentrations similar to those that induced lung cancer in rats and mice, and substantially higher than the exposure concentrations in the positive epidemiologic studies.

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