Accomplishments & Priorities - Semiannual Report

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

July 2001 - December 2001

• Children’s Environmental Health Protection
• Environmental Protection Indicators for California
• Proposition 65
• Public Health Goals
• Air Toxics Hot Spots Program
• Fish Advisories

The mission of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is to protect and enhance public health and the environment by objective scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances.

Children’s Environmental Health Protection

OEHHA is engaged in several scientific endeavors to better understand and assess the threats that air pollutants and other environmental contaminants pose to children and infants. Many of these activities are being conducted in accordance with the Children’s Environmental Health Protection Act (SB 25, Escutia, Chapter 731, Statutes of 1999).

Accomplishments

1. Toxic Air Contaminants: OEHHA completed an evaluation of the health effects of toxic air contaminants (TAC) and established an initial list of five TACs that may cause infants and children to be especially susceptible to illnesses. The five TACs are dioxins, lead, polycyclic organic matter, particulate matter emissions from diesel-fueled engines, and acrolein. The evaluation was one of the most extensive performed to date concerning the effects of TACs on infants and children. The scientific review panel (SRP) approved OEHHA’s report at its July 2001 meeting and the SRP completed its findings at its November 2001 meeting. The list has been forwarded to the Air Resources Board (ARB), which will evaluate the need for new or modified control measures for the five TACs.

2. Particulate Matter Review: OEHHA prepared a draft report describing the epidemiological and toxicological literature on the health effects of particulate matter. The report also contains recommended revisions to the State ambient air quality standards for particulate matter. An initial review by OEHHA and ARB in 2000 gave particulate matter the highest priority for review as required by the Act because of evidence that the current standard may not adequately protect the health of children.

3. Chemical Contaminants at School Sites: OEHHA, in fall 2001, identified chemicals found at school sites and, of those, chemicals that have the potential to adversely affect school children. OEHHA will use the list for follow-up work concerning the mitigation of hazardous chemicals at school sites.

Priorities

1. Particulate Matter Review: OEHHA will finalize recommendations for revised ambient air quality standards for particulate matter after responding to public comments and the peer review by the Air Quality Advisory Committee. The recommendations will be presented to the ARB at its May 2002 hearing.

2. Children’s Environmental Health Symposium: OEHHA anticipates holding a third symposium on children’s environmental health in the first half of 2002. The purpose of the symposium will be to evaluate risk assessment and exposure assessment data and methodologies. Past seminars have drawn national attention.

3. Chemical Contaminants at School Sites: OEHHA will identify up to five chemicals commonly found at school sites that are of greatest concern based on criteria that identify child-specific exposures and child-specific physiological sensitivities.

4. Traffic Study: From the data collected in the Children’s Respiratory Health Traffic Study (of 1,200 East Bay school children) OEHHA will examine the correlation between traffic-related air pollutants and children’s respiratory health.

Environmental Protection Indicators for California

OEHHA is the lead agency for implementing the Environmental Protection Indicators for California (EPIC) project through which environmental indicators will be developed to assess the overall health of California’s environment and the effectiveness of the State’s environmental programs.

Accomplishments

1. EPIC Report: OEHHA completed and circulated a draft of the EPIC report to the heads of the boards and departments in Cal/EPA, the Resources Agency, and to members of two advisory panels that are assisting with the project. The report includes a description of the process and criteria developed for the identification and selection of environmental indicators and an initial set of indicators.

Priorities

1. EPIC Report: OEHHA will complete and release the EPIC report. The report will include background information on the indicators and the EPIC project, the process, a description of the environmental issues addressed by the environmental indicator system, and an initial set of environmental indicators for California. The report will serve as a reference concerning the health of California’s environment, and will establish the foundation for a comprehensive system of environmental indicators that will better enable Cal/EPA to track its progress in improving environmental quality and addressing the state’s most pressing environmental needs.

Proposition 65

Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires the Governor to publish a list of chemicals that are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. This list must be updated at least once a year. OEHHA is designated as the lead agency to implement Proposition 65.

Accomplishments

1. Safe Harbor Levels: In the first half of 2001, OEHHA developed draft “safe harbor” levels for 23 listed chemicals. Safe harbor levels identify levels of exposures that do not require businesses to provide warnings under Proposition 65. OEHHA held a public hearing in July to receive comments on its proposed adoption of these levels. OEHHA submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) a final regulatory package to adopt safe harbor levels for 15 chemicals into regulation.

2. Administrative Addition to Proposition 65 List: OEHHA added one chemical (methyleugenol) as a carcinogen to the Proposition 65 list.

3. Carcinogen Identification Committee: In December, the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) listed the chemical carboxymethylnitrosourea. OEHHA has prepared hazardous identification documents (HIDs) on this chemical.

4. Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Committee: In December, the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Committee delisted two chemicals-2,4-DP and cyclohexanol. OEHHA has prepared HIDs on these chemicals.

5. Random Selection of Chemicals: OEHHA conducted a random selection of 50 chemicals that will be further evaluated for possible listing as carcinogens under Proposition 65. Each of the 50 chemicals selected will be screened for cancer potential based on a brief review of the available scientific literature and prioritized. Chemicals receiving a priority of “high” will become candidates for review by the CIC.

6. Clear and Reasonable Warning Regulations: OEHHA developed a draft regulation that addresses the administering of Proposition 65 warnings in limited emergency medical situations. A public hearing was held in September and comments were received during a 45-day comment period.

7. Clarifying Regulations: OEHHA held a public workshop in November to solicit input from interested parties on proposed amendments to its Proposition 65 regulations.

8. Safe Use Determinations (SUD): SUDs allow industry to request OEHHA to determine that use of their product containing a listed chemical under Proposition 65 will not pose a risk to the public and therefore would not require a warning label. OEHHA held a workshop in December to solicit input on its safe use determination regulations and changes that would make the process better.

Priorities

1. Additions to Proposition 65 List: OEHHA will consider the listing of as many as seven chemicals under the “authoritative bodies” and “formally required to be labeled” listing mechanisms.

2. Safe Harbor Levels: OEHHA will submit a final regulatory package to OAL that establishes final safe harbor levels for chemicals included in the July 2001 public hearing. In addition, OEHHA expects to propose safe harbor levels for additional chemicals on the Proposition 65 list.

3. Clear and Reasonable Warning Regulations: OEHHA will finalize the amendment to the clear and reasonable warning regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act requirements.

4. Clarifying Regulations: OEHHA intends to propose a series of amendments to the Proposition 65 regulations. These amendments are to clarify vague and ambiguous provisions of the regulations as well as to modify the SUD regulations.

Public Health Goals

The Calderon-Sher California Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 requires OEHHA to develop and publish “public health goals” (PHG) for chemicals for which there are existing drinking water standards. PHGs are concentrations of chemicals in drinking water that are not anticipated to produce adverse health effects following long-term exposures.

Accomplishments

1. Public Health Goals: OEHHA published final PHG documents for nickel, simazine, perchloroethylene, and uranium. Additional PHG documents are progressing toward completion.

2. PHG for Hexavalent Chromium (chromium VI): Based on a request from the Department of Health Services (DHS) to develop a PHG for hexavalent chromium, OEHHA requested the University of California to convene a blue ribbon panel of scientists. Based on its report, OEHHA withdrew its old total chromium PHG. The panel’s recommendations were also considered for a report of risks of chromium in drinking water in the San Fernando Basin.

Priorities

1. Public Health Goals: OEHHA will continue to work on the development of 12 or more draft PHGs for drinking water contaminants, including a PHG for chromium VI, perchlorate, and arsenic.

Air Toxics Hot Spots Program

OEHHA assesses the risk that chemical contaminants in the air pose to health. In addition, OEHHA reviews site-specific risk assessments under the ARB’s Air Toxics Hot Spots program and provides guidance for use in site-specific risk assessments.

Accomplishments

1. Reference Exposure Levels: Twelve new chronic reference exposure levels (REL) were approved by the scientific review panel in November 2001. Approval of an additional chronic REL is expected in early 2002. The RELs, which identify levels of exposure to specific pollutants that would not be expected to pose health risks, reflect consideration of potential impacts on children and infants as required by the Children’s Environmental Health Protection Act.

Priorities

1. Guidance Manual: OEHHA will release the Air Toxics Hot Spots Risk Assessment Guidance Manual for public review and comment and will conduct public workshops. OEHHA will also submit the manual for review by the SRP prior to finalizing the document. The guidance manual is designed to assist air districts and interested parties in assessing risks posed by air emissions from facilities.

Fish Advisories

OEHHA is responsible for assessing the risks from chemical contaminants in fish and issuing sport fish consumption advisories. These advisories inform the public about the amount of sport fish they can safely consume.

Accomplishments

1. Fish Advisories: OEHHA updated, published, and released a new edition of the “California Sport Fish Consumption Advisory” booklet, which contains a listing of all OEHHA fish advisories and related information.

2. Fish Advisory Reports: OEHHA finalized the report “Consumption of Fish and Shellfish in California and the United States.” OEHHA is continuing to work on other reports concerning contaminated fish in Black Butte Lake in the northern Sacramento Valley and the Bear and Yuba river watersheds in the northern Sierra Nevada.

Priorities

1. Fish Advisories: OEHHA will continue the evaluation of chemicals in fish and the issuance of interim fishing advisories as needed.

Other Accomplishments

1. Tire Fire Report: OEHHA developed a report on the potential health hazards from exposure to smoke from burning tires. This one-time report was mandated by legislation, Chapter 838, Statutes of 2000 (SB 876, Escutia) that was enacted following the 1999 tire fire in Westley.

2. Border Agreements of Cooperation with Mexico: OEHHA, along with Cal/EPA, negotiated and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Instituto de Servicios de Salud Publica del Estado de Baja California to design and conduct a study of lead exposures and effects on children in the city of Tijuana. The study is part of a larger Cal/EPA initiative intended to address environmental health issues along the California/Mexico border.

3. Physician’s Pesticide Training: OEHHA continued its medical education program designed to alert physicians and other health care professionals to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of pesticide poisoning. Presentations on pesticide illness reporting, recognition, and management were conducted in Chula Vista, St. Helena, San Francisco, Martinez, Richmond, and Imperial County.

4. Registered Environmental Assessor Program: OEHHA has enhanced its Registered Environmental Assessor (REA) Web site, <http://rea.ca.gov/>, by providing stakeholders with a search function for registrant information retrieval.

5. Pesticide Exposure Field Investigations: OEHHA conducted a community health survey in Earlimart (Tulare County). The survey was requested by the Tulare County Health Office and is designed to follow up on a number of reported health problems resulting from accidental exposure to metam sodium in November 1999.

Other Priorities

1. Registered Environmental Assessor Program: OEHHA will continue to enhance its REA Web site. These enhancements will include a new Web site design and development of a secure data transmittal system to ensure stakeholder confidentiality of application information.

2. Toxic Air Contaminant Program: OEHHA will be working on a revised health effects assessment for environmental tobacco smoke. The ARB has designated environmental tobacco smoke for consideration for listing as a TAC. OEHHA will update a health assessment that was conducted five years ago with subsequent literature on the health effect of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

3. Border Environmental Affairs: OEHHA will be presenting a series of risk assessment training workshops for Mexican environmental professionals in the Border region. The office will conduct pesticide illness training for Mexican physicians and will continue to gather data to support the development of fish advisories for the New and Tijuana rivers.

4. Pesticide Exposure Field Investigations: OEHHA will continue the Earlimart community health survey.

Complex Mixtures Associated with Gasoline: OEHHA plans to publish a preliminary characterization of the health risks attributable to air emissions from gasoline use.

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