Overview of EPA's Occupational Exposure Tools and Approaches Used in New and Existing Chemical Evaluations Under Amended TSCA

摘要

On June 22, 2016, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act was signed into law amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Nation's primary chemicals management law. The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT's) risk evaluation addresses occupational settings as part of the exposure assessment. Release to the environment and occupational exposures may be considered simultaneously to gain assessment efficiencies. Key exposure parameters include duration, intensity, frequency and number of workers exposed under the conditions of use of a chemical, and key release parameters may be expressed similarly. Typically, measured data are preferred, but when data are not available, empirical and modeling approaches or assumptions are used. This presentation provides an overview of OPPT's approaches and tools used for assessing occupational exposures and releases of new and existing chemicals with a focus on EPA's computerized tool called Chemical Screening Tool for Exposures and Environmental Releases (ChemsTEER). This tool consists of peer reviewed mathematical models and industry-specific release and exposure scenarios that can be used to estimate exposures and releases in the absence of data and/or to augment available data. Note: The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not represent Agency policy or endorsement.