Recent Additions

EPA is announcing the release of the draft document, Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter (Second External Review Draft). This draft ISA document represents a concise synthesis and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science and will ultimately provide the scientific bases for EPA's decision regarding whether the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM sufficiently protects public health and the environment. [Federal Register July 31, 2009]

EPA is announcing a 45-day public comment period for the draft document, Nanomaterial Case Studies: Nanoscale Titanium Dioxide in Water Treatment and Topical Sunscreen (External Review Draft). This draft document presents two case studies of nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) used (1) to remove arsenic from drinking water and (2) as an active ingredient in topical sunscreen. This draft document is part of a process that will inform the development of EPA’s research strategy to support nanomaterial risk assessments. [Federal Register July 31, 2009 ]

On May 21, 2009, an external peer review panel workshop was hosted by an independent contractor on the Toxicological Review of Halogenated Platinum Salts and Platinum Compounds (External Review Draft). Completing this review, a final report of the comments from the workshop were collected and is now available.

EPA announces the details of the External Peer Review Panel Workshop being held on August 4th, 2009. This draft assessment was previously provided for public viewing and comment [Federal Register May 7, 2009 ] The public comments received on the Toxicological Review within the external review period will be provided to the peer reviewers prior to the meeting for their consideration. [Federal Register June 29, 2009]

EPA announces the release of the final report, Metabolically Derived Human Ventilation Rates: A Revised Approach Based Upon Oxygen Consumption Rates .

EPA announces the availability of the final report, Land-Use Scenarios: National-Scale Housing-Density Scenarios Consistent with Climate Change Storylines. This report describes the scenarios and models used to generate national-scale housing density scenarios for the conterminous U.S. to the year 2100. The report was prepared by the Office of Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment's Global Change Research Program.

EPA announces a public meeting to be held on June 30, 2009 to July 1, 2009 in Washington D.C. for the Science Advisory Board (SAB) Advisory Committee's discussion of the EPA's Report on the Environment. [Jun 9, 2009 Federal Register Notice]

EPA is announcing a listening session to be held on July 6, 2009, during the public comment period for the draft document entitled, Toxicological Review of 1,4-Dioxane: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). [Federal Register Jun 9, 2009]

EPA is announcing a listening session to be held on June 24, 2009, during the public comment period for the draft document entitled, Toxicological Review of Pentachlorophenol: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). [Federal Register Jun 9, 2009]

EPA announces the release of the summary report cumulating the discussion and conclusions from the Feb 18-20, 2009 dioxin draft reassessment workshop held in Cincinnati, OH. EPA and Argonne National Laboratories, through an inter-Agency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, convened a workshop that identified and addressed issues related to the dose-response assessment of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).

EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) to review and approve the draft report of the CASAC Carbon Monoxide Review Panel regarding the review of the CO ISA (First External Review Draft). [Federal Register May 28, 2009]

EPA announces the release of the 2009 Science Plan for activities related to Dioxins in the environment. [Press Release May 26, 2009]

EPA announces reforms to the agency's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) that will revitalize the program and ensure its scientific quality, integrity, transparency and timeliness. [Press Release May 21, 2009]

EPA is announcing a 30-day public comment period for the draft document, "An Approach to Using Toxicogenomic Data in U.S. EPA Human Health Risk Assessments: A Dibutyl Phthalate Case Study (External Review Draft)", as announced in the May 20, 2009 Federal Register Notice. In addition EPA will convene an independent panel of experts to conduct an external peer-review workshop to review the external review draft report. [Federal Register May 20, 2009]

EPA is announcing the release of the final report titled, "BASINS 4.0 Climate Assessment Tool (CAT): Supporting Documentation and User's Manual". The purpose of this report is to provide in a single document a variety of documentation and user support materials supporting the use of BASINS CAT.

EPA announces the release of the draft document, Toxicological Review of Pentachlorophenol, for public review and comment. [Federal Register May 7, 2009]

EPA announces the release of the draft document, Toxicological Review of 1,4-Dioxane, for public review and comment. [Federal Register May 7, 2009]

NCEA is announcing an opportunity for a Deputy Division Director of our Cincinnati Ohio Office and an epidemiologist (specifically in the evaluation of evidence from epidemiologic studies on effects of ambient air pollutants) to join the staff of our Research Triangle Park Division. For more information about these 2 vacancies vist USAjobs.com.

EPA announces the details of the External Peer Review Panel Workshop being held on May 21, 2009. This draft assessment was previously provided for public viewing and comment [Federal Register Feb 5, 2009 ] The public comments received on the Toxicological Review within the external review period will be provided to the peer reviewers prior to the meeting for their consideration. [Federal Register April 27, 2009]

EPA is announcing the release of the final report, Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality: A Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone An Interim Report of the U.S. EPA Global Change Research Program, prepared by the NCEA Global Change Research Program Staff. This report is intended for managers and scientists working on air quality to provide them with information on the potential effects of climate change on regional air quality in the United States.[Press Release Apr 17, 2009]

EPA is announcing the availability of 6 recent publications referred to as, an Overview Summary of Toxicological, Chemical, and Statistical Criteria for Defining Sufficient Similarity for Use in the Risk Assessment of Chemical Mixtures . Through this summary they offer approaches for using existing toxicity data on a known mixture to assess potential health risks from exposure to another related mixture (e.g., from a similar type of treatment process or emissions source) for which adequate toxicity data are unavailable and may be difficult or expensive to generate.

EPA is announcing a 30 day public comment period for the review of an ACCESS database file containing physiological parameter data intended to be suitable for application with PBPK modeling. EPA requests that interested users comment on the functionality or usability of this resource and provide comments that may be considered for improving the final product. [Federal Register Apr 16, 2009]

EPA's Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC) has released the final report entitled, Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment. BSAF is a parameter describing bioaccumulation of sediment-associated organic compounds or metals into tissues of ecological receptors. The report provides information on methodologies to estimate BSAF for nonionic organic chemicals.

EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory (CASAC) CO Review Panel to discuss the CO ISA (First External Review Draft). [Federal Register Apr 3, 2009]

EPA is annoucing the availability of the final report, Considerations for Developing a Dosimetry-Based Cumulative Risk Assessment Approach for Mixtures of Environmental Contaminants. This report describes a process that can be used to determine the potential value of developing physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to support a cumulative risk assessment.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will be hosting an external review meeting to discuss the IRIS Toxicological Review of Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) (External Review Draft) report to be held Apr 2-3, 2009 in Irvine, CA.

EPA is announcing the release of the draft document, Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Carbon Monoxide (First External Review Draft) for public review and comment. [Federal Register March 12, 2009]

EPA is announcing a listening session to be held on March 25, 2009, during the public comment period for the draft document entitled, Toxicological Review of Halogenated Platinum Salts and Platinum Compounds (Platinum): In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). [Federal Register Mar 9, 2009]

EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced a public meeting of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory (CASAC) PM Review Panel to discuss the PM ISA (First External Review Draft). [Federal Register Feb 19, 2009]

EPA is announcing the release of the final report, Toxicological Review of Nitrobenzene: In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). This includes a new Summary for Nitrobenzene and an accompanying toxicological review.

EPA announces the release of the draft document, Toxicological Review of Halogenated Platinum Salts and Platinum Compounds (Platinum), for public review and comment. [Federal Register Feb 5, 2009]

EPA is hosting the 2009 Toxicology and Risk Assessment Conference in West Chester, OH, April 27 - 30, 2009 with the theme "Toxicology and Risk Assessment from the Trenches." Registration (for the conference and hotel), directions and a draft agenda are now available.

EPA has released a final report entitled, "Predicting Future Introductions of Nonindigenous Species to the Great Lakes." This report predicts the spread of aquatic nonindigenous species into the Great Lakes to help resource managers focus monitoring activities on particular species at the most vulnerable U.S. Great Lakes ports. The report also demonstrates the use of a habitat suitability model and ballast water discharge data to predict invasion potential.
[Federal Register Jan 5, 2009]

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will be hosting an external review meeting to discuss the IRIS Toxicological Review of Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) (External Review Draft) report to be held Jan 29-30, 2009 in Washington DC.