Most Popular Links
- Art and Crafts Hazards List
- Biomonitoring
- Cal/Ecotox Database
- Decisions Pending and Opportunities for Public Participation
- Green Chemistry
- Hot Spots
- Nanotechnology
- OEHHA Distinguished Lecture Series
- Press Releases
- Proposition 65 List of Chemicals
- Public Health Goals
- Public Records Act Requests
- Soil Screening Values
- Toxicity Criteria Database
Listservs
- OEHHA Listserv
- Biomonitoring Listserv
- Cumulative Impacts and Precautionary Approaches (CI/PA) Listserv
- Fish Listserv
- Prop. 65 Listserv
Employment
contact OEHHA
more resources
- Air Pollution and Children's Health
- Child-Specific Reference Doses (chRDs)
- CalEcotox Database
- Environmental Justice
- Environmental Protection Indicators for California - Reports
- Pesticides - Physician's Information
- Risk Assessment for the Layperson
- Toxic Air Contaminants
- Toxicity Criteria Database
- Soil Screening Values
resources for kids and educators
- CEEIN
- Disney's Environmentality Challenge
- Education LInks
- Guidelines for Safe Use of Art and Craft Materials
- Green California Schools Summit
- Internet Atlas
- Roseville Utility Exploration Center
- Sally Ride Science Festivals
OEHHA Department Description
While OEHHA does not promulgate environmental regulations directly, it is responsible for developing and providing risk managers in state and local government agencies with toxicological and medical information relevant to decisions involving public health. State agency users of such information include all boards and departments within Cal/EPA, as well as the Department of Health Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Justice. OEHHA also works with Federal agencies, the scientific community, industry and the general public on issues of environmental as well as public health. Examples of current OEHHA functions and responsibilities include:
- Developing health-protective exposure standards for different media (air, water, land) to recommend to regulatory agencies, including ambient air quality standards for the Air Resources Board and drinking water chemical contaminant standards for the Department of Health Services.
- Carrying out special investigations of potential environmental causes of illness, diseases and deaths. Current and recent activities include investigation of the health effects of air pollutants, pesticides, and other chemical exposures.
- Continuing public health oversight of environmental regulatory programs within Cal/EPA.
- Making recommendations to the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board with respect to sport and commercial fishing in areas where fish may be contaminated.
- Assessing health risks to the public from air pollution, pesticide and other chemical contamination of food, seafood, drinking water, and consumer products.
- Providing guidance to local health departments, environmental departments, and other agencies with specific public health problems, including appropriate actions to take in emergencies that may involve chemicals.
- Implementing the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).
- These responsibilities are fulfilled by a highly trained professional staff of about 110 individuals. Of these staff, 64 hold doctoral degrees, seven are physicians, and 21 hold masters degrees in public health or science. OEHHA is budgeted in fiscal year 2001-2002 for approximately $17 million. OEHHA is headquartered in Sacramento and has a second office in Oakland.
OEHHA's strategic plan charts the direction we will take to accomplish our governing mission.
