The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's inhalation RfD methodology: Risk assessment for air toxics

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Toxicology and Industrial Health; (USA)

OSTI ID:5889718

Jarabek, A M; Menache, M G; Overton, Jr, J H; Dourson, M L; Miller, F J ^[1]

---

1. Environment Protection Agency Environmental, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has advocated the establishment of general and scientific guidelines for the evaluation of toxicological data and their use in deriving benchmark values to protect exposed populations from adverse health effects. The Agency's reference dose (RfD) methodology for deriving benchmark values for noncancer toxicity originally addressed risk assessment of oral exposures. This paper presents a brief background on the development of the inhalation reference dose (RfDi) methodology, including concepts and issues related to addressing the dynamics of the respiratory system as the portal of entry. Different dosimetric adjustments are described that were incorporated into the methodology to account for the nature of the inhaled agent (particle or gas) and the site of the observed toxic effects (respiratory or extra-respiratory). Impacts of these adjustments on the extrapolation of toxicity data of inhaled agents for human health risk assessment and future research directions are also discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5889718
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Industrial Health; (USA), Vol. 6:5; ISSN 0748-2337
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
HEALTH HAZARDS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
INFORMATION NEEDS
INHALATION
MAN
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
TOXIC MATERIALS
US EPA
ANIMALS
HAZARDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology