1999 Accomplishments and Priorities

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment protects and enhances public health and the environment by objective scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances

Accomplishments during Second Half of 1999

1. Public Health Goals (PHGs). In July, OEHHA announced the chemicals selected for development of PHGs for drinking water. The first and second quarterly reports on the PHG program were submitted to the Legislature. In October, OEHHA developed and posted draft documents for PHGs for 12 chemical contaminants in drinking water for public review. A public workshop was held in November.

2. Proposition 65.
   • Additions to List. In August, OEHHA announced 20 chemicals (both carcinogens and reproductive toxicants) that were added to the Proposition 65 list. In December, the OEHHA announced the addition of palygorskite fibers.
   • Cancer Data Summaries. In August, OEHHA released to the public for comment the final cancer data summaries on the 60 chemicals that were randomly selected in February. Following public comment, a subset of these chemicals will have hazard identification documents prepared over the next 12 months to be presented to the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC).
   • Carcinogen Identification Committee. The CIC met in October in Oakland. The CIC considered four chemicals bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl)ether, 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene, estragole and trichloroacetic acid for possible Proposition 65 listing and found all but bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl)ether to be clearly shown as chemicals to cause cancer. Also at this meeting, for the first time since Proposition 65 was implemented, five chemicals were considered for delisting and the panel determined that all but one chemical (1-dichloroethane) should be delisted.

3. Medical Supervisors Survey Document. In support of OEHHA's joint and mutual responsibility over worker health and safety, a final document entitled "Results of a Survey Regarding Certification and Training for Physicians Providing Medical Supervision for California Pesticide Mixer/Loader/Applicators" was released on August 30. In December, this report was sent to all County Health Officers, County Environmental Health Officers, and medical supervisors of record, and was previously sent to all County Agricultural Commissioners. The report verified the need for additional physician training.

4. Westley Tire Fire. OEHHA staff served on a Cal/EPA task force and assisted in assessing the health impacts of the tire fire in Westley, California. OEHHA staff participated in public meetings and hearings related to the tire fire.

5. Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE). OEHHA submitted the document, "Cancer Health Effects Evaluation for MTBE in Air" to the Scientific Review Panel (SRP) for its review in July. The revised document was submitted, reviewed, and approved by the SRP in November.

6. California Sport Fishing Regulations Booklet. In December, OEHHA submitted to the Department of Fish and Game updated public health advisories on fish consumption.

7. Registered Environmental Assessor (REA) Program. In December, OEHHA’s REA Program completed development of a new year 2000 compliant database of REA registrants and different outreach brochures explaining the REA program.

8. Air Toxics Hot Spots. A revised draft of "Exposure Assessment and Stochastic Analysis" for hot spot facilities was submitted to the Scientific Review Panel in December for review. This document pertains to evaluation of hot spot facilities, but much of the information developed will assist OEHHA’s multimedia risk assessment model development process.

9. Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee. In December, the DART Identification Committee met to consider adding fenbutatin oxide and quizalofop ethyl to the Proposition 65 list. The Committee found that quizalofop ethyl was clearly shown to cause male reproductive toxicity and will be added to the list. Fenbutatin oxide was not clearly shown to cause reproductive toxicity and will not be added to the list.

10. Potential Health Risks of Ethanol in Gasoline Report. The Governor’s Executive Order D-5-99 requested OEHHA to study the potential health impacts of ethanol in gasoline. The report from OEHHA and other Cal/EPA boards and departments had a December 31 due date and was submitted on time to the Environmental Policy Council. OEHHA’s report included responses to public comments submitted on the document.

Priorities for First Half of 2000

1. Air Toxics Hot Spots. The "Air Toxics Hot Spots Risk Assessment Guidelines Part IV" will be submitted to the Scientific Review Panel for its review. This document describes exposure assessment and stochastic modeling and is the fourth part of a five-part set of guidelines being developed for use by the local air pollution control districts. The SRP will also receive and review the revised document "Air Toxics Hot Spots – Program Risk Assessment Guidelines Part III: Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels." (January)

2. MTBE. OEHHA will submit to the SRP for review its proposed chronic reference exposure level for MTBE. (January)

3. OEHHA Web Site. OEHHA is working on the redesign of its Web site. The improved Web site will include: a chemical database that has information on cancer potency data, PHGs, and Proposition 65 no-significant-risk numbers. (January)

4. Multimedia Risk Assessment Project. The first report on exposure assessment methods and models used by Cal/EPA programs and other organizations will be completed and sent out for comment. (January)

5. REA I/II Program. OEHHA will develop and implement investigation, audit, and revocation procedures for the new REA II program. The REA program will also revise regulations relating to the REA I program to address the adjusted fee required for registration and to make the REA I regulations consistent with REA II regulations that became effective in late 1998. (January-March)

6. REA I/II Program. OEHHA will continue database development including on-line application and record updating for use by REA applicants and registrants, and a searchable database of REAs for use by the public. (January-April)

7. Proposition 65.
   • Authoritative Body Listings. OEHHA will consider the listing of nine chemicals under the "authoritative body" mechanism. Proposition 65 allows for the listing of chemicals that selected scientific organizations have identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. OEHHA will review the scientific basis used by the "authoritative bodies" for identifying those nine chemicals. (January-June)
   • "Formally Required to be Labeled" Listings. OEHHA will consider the listing of 16 chemicals under the "formally required to be labeled or identified" mechanism. Proposition 65 allows for the listing of substances that are required by a state or federal agency to be labeled or identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. These substances often are pharmaceuticals that are required to contain accompanying information to users regarding their ability to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. (January-June)
   • "Qualified Experts" Listing for Reproductive Toxicants. OEHHA will consider the listing of six chemicals as causing reproductive toxicity under the "qualified experts" mechanism. Proposition 65 allows for the listing of chemicals that are deemed by the "state’s qualified experts" to cause reproductive toxicity. Listings will be determined by members of the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee, a panel of independent scientists that is administered by OEHHA. (January-June)
   • "Qualified Experts" Listing for Carcinogens. OEHHA will consider the listing of eight chemicals as causing cancer under the "qualified experts" mechanism. Proposition 65 allows for the listing of chemicals that are deemed by the "state’s qualified experts" to cause cancer. Listings will be determined by members of the Carcinogen Identification Committee, a panel of independent scientists that is administered by OEHHA. (January-June)

8. Air Quality - Children’s Staff Training. OEHHA will bring together international experts on children’s health to instruct Cal/EPA scientists on current thinking regarding environmental standards and their ability to protect children as a sensitive subpopulation. (January-June)

9. Proposition 65 - Selection of Chemicals for Review. OEHHA has developed a pool of possible developmental and reproductive toxicants that have been assigned a high priority for review for possible listing under Proposition 65. This will be the first time that high-priority chemicals will be selected for review from this pool using OEHHA’s random-selection methodology. (February-June)

10. Air Toxic Hot Spots. A second set of health values - Chronic Reference Exposure Levels - for an additional 40 chemicals will be submitted to the SRP for its review. (June)

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