LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS
This Just In...
EPA announces release of Exposure Factors Handbook: 2011
September 30, 2011 — Washington, D.C.
EPA is announcing the release of the final document, Exposure Factors Handbook: 2011 Edition, a report that provides the most up-to-date data on the various human factors used in assessing exposure. These factors include: drinking water consumption, soil ingestion, inhalation rates, dermal factors including skin area and soil adherence factors, consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, dairy products, homegrown foods, human milk intake, human activity factors, consumer product use, and building characteristics.
EPA issues guidance on development of data-derived uncertainty factors
June, 2011 — Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is seeking public comment prior to external peer review of the draft document Guidance for Applying Quantitative Data to Develop Data-Derived Extrapolation Factors for Interspecies and Intraspecies Extrapolation. The comment period will run for 45-days from June 9, 2011 to July 24, 2011.
The uncertainty in extrapolating the results from animal toxicity studies to humans is divided into animal to human (interspecies) differences and human variability (intraspecies differences). This draft document outlines approaches for using data for particular agents to develop factors to compensate for those uncertainties. The document was developed to provide guidance for EPA staff in evaluating such data and/or information, and to inform the regulated community and other interested parties about deriving and implementing extrapolation factors derived from data in lieu of default values. EPA is releasing this document solely for the purpose of seeking public comment prior to external peer review. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. This draft guidance does not and should not be construed to constitute EPA policy, viewpoint, or determination. Read more about the draft document here.