EPA 2005a Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment

Revises cancer guidelines, inviting mechanistic data review and consideration of early-life exposures (mutagens trigger additional safety factors).

Does not discuss planning and scoping or problem formulation.

Definition of Risk Assessment: Page 1-3: Publications by the Office of Science and Technology (OSTP 1985) and the National Research Council (NRC 1983, 1994) provide information and general principles about risk assessment. Risk assessment uses available scientific information on the properties of an agent and its effects in biologic systems to provide an evaluation of the potential for harm as a consequence of environmental exposure. The 1983 and 1994 NRC documents organize risk-assessment information into hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. This structure appears in these cancer guidelines, with additional emphasis on characterization of evidence and conclusions in each part of the assessment.

EPA 2005b Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol for Hazardous Waste Combustion Facilities

The protocol is an “approach for conducting multi-pathway, site-specific human health risk assessments on Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste combustors” (EPA 2005b, p. 1-1). Does not discuss planning and scoping or problem formulation.

Expansion of IRIS program

Planned expansion of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program with toxicity-assessment reviews to include broader input of federal partners, OMB, and other parties. (See Risk Policy Report 2005a,b)

EPA 2005c Aging and Toxic Response: Issues Relevant to Risk Assessment

Identifies data gaps and research needs to assist ORD in characterizing risks to the aging population from exposure to environmental toxicants.

EPA 2006a Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook

Provides non-chemical-specific data on exposure factors for childhood age groups with respect to breast-milk ingestion, food ingestion, drinking-water ingestion, soil ingestion, hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth activity, such dermal exposure factors as surface areas and soil adherence, inhalation rates, duration and frequency in different locations and various microenvironments, duration and frequency of consumer-product use, and body weight.

OMB 2006 Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin

Was developed in an effort to “enhance the technical quality and objectivity of risk assessments prepared by federal agencies by establishing uniform, minimum standards” (OMB 2006, p. 3). Includes language related to conducting uncertainty analyses, seven standards for conducting general risk assessments, and nine special standards for influential risk assessments.