FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2003
FY03-28
ORISE Undertakes New Work as Part of EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program
OAK RIDGE, TENN—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to lend technical and management assistance to the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) office. As part of the $10 million, five-year contract, ORISE will produce new IRIS documentation and conduct peer reviews on chemical substances of interest to the EPA.
Developed and maintained by the EPA, IRIS is an electronic database that stores information on health effects that may result from exposure to various chemicals in the environment. Combined with specific exposure information, the data in IRIS may be used as a source in evaluating potential public health risks from environmental contaminants. The information posted on IRIS is used by stakeholders around the world, including federal and state agencies, academia, industry, and the general public.
In May 2003, the ORISE IRIS Technical Assistance team began start-up activities to manage and produce human health assessment documents, in collaboration with EPA staff, for publication on the IRIS. Beginning in fiscal year 2004, the team expects to prepare documents for approximately 25 chemicals annually and conduct about 15 peer reviews annually.
The ORISE IRIS staff includes Peggy Smith, group manager; Wanda Penland Olson, project manager; Dr. George Holdsworth, senior toxicologist; and Sheri Hester, literature researcher. They will prepare toxicological reviews and summaries of chemical substances identified by the EPA for update or inclusion in IRIS. Leslie Shaphard and her staff will manage written peer reviews and peer review meetings for the project.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy institute focusing on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities.