Jump to main content.

Graphical Arrays of Chemical-Specific Health Effect Reference Values for Inhalation Exposures (Final Report)

Contact
George M. Woodall
by phone at:   919-541-3896
by fax at:   919-541-0245
by email at:  woodall.george@epa.gov
Go To Downloads

Notice

[11/09] The final report, Graphical Arrays of Chemical-Specific Health Effect Reference Values for Inhalation Exposures document was replaced. This version includes a unit correction. No other substantive changes were made.

[10/09] The final report was replaced in October to include a few typographical and units conversion corrections in several of the individual chemical summaries. In addition, these revisions required replacement of the graphical arrays for the chemicals Formaldehyde, Methylene Chloride, and Styrene. No other substantive changes were made.

[09/09] EPA annouced the release of the final report entitled, Graphical Arrays of Chemical-Specific Health Effect Reference Values for Inhalation Exposures.

This document provides graphical arrays and tables of key information on the derivation of human inhalation health effect reference values for specific chemicals, allowing comparisons across durations, populations, and intended use. A number of program offices within the Agency, as well as other Federal, State, and International agencies, have stated a need for these types of arrays to assist in decisions on risk and in communication with the general public.
Background
This report includes inhalation health effect reference values derived for exposure durations ranging from acute (less than 24 hours) to chronic (potentially lifetime). The document opens with an overview of the types of available inhalation health effect reference value systems, the purpose and population for which the various types of health effect reference values were designed to be applied, and provides some rudimentary comparisons between reference values systems.

Individual chemical-specific summaries are presented for 24 chemicals, which includes discussion of the available inhalation health effect reference values for each chemical, along with a graphical array of the reference values,and a table of key background information relevant to how the values were derived. Where appropriate, some considerations on the use of individual, chemical-specific values are also included in the individual summaries.

History/Chronology

2005-2008Various reference value arrays developed on an ad hoc basis.
Feb 2009Client Workshop on need and format of arrays and documentation.
Jun 2009Draft Reference Value Array Document developed.
Jul 2009Draft Document sent to clients for review.
Aug 2009Revised final document based on client review comments.
Sep 2009EPA releases final report.

Next Steps


This is a final document. An interactive, web-based collection of arrays is under consideration for development to allow updates to the collection as the existing reference values are revised over time. Additional arrays may also be developed and added to the collection in response to client program needs.

Downloads/Related Links

Citation

U.S. EPA. Graphical Arrays of Chemical-Specific Health Effect Reference Values for Inhalation Exposures (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-09/061, 2009.
Email a link to this page to a friend

ORD Home | Search EPA

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.