A report presents a list of chemicals emitted from California refineries, and then prioritizes the chemicals according to their emissions levels and toxicity. The report is a companion document or appendix to ARB’s air monitoring report, “Refinery Emergency Air Monitoring Assessment Report”.
Air
OEHHA is responsible for conducting health risk assessments of chemical contaminants found in air, including those identified as toxic air contaminants or on the list of chemicals under the “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act. Assessments include development of Cancer Potency Factors to assess the cancer risk from carcinogens in air, and development of Reference Exposure Levels to assess noncancer health impacts. OEHHA has developed and updates risk assessment guidance for use in site-specific risk assessments under the Air Toxics Hot Spots program. OEHHA also makes health-based recommendations to the Air Resources Board for Ambient Air Quality Standards. Recent legislation, the Children's Environmental Health Protection Act, requires OEHHA to explicitly consider infants and children in evaluating health risks of air pollutants. OEHHA is evaluating current risk assessment methods for their adequacy to protect children.
OEHHA also conducts epidemiological investigations of the health effects of criteria air pollutants. Such investigations include the health impacts on sensitive subpopulations such as children and the elderly. For example, OEHHA conducted an evaluation of the impacts of traffic-related pollutants on children. Specifically, the relationship between respiratory health of children and proximity of their schools to heavily-traveled roadways including measured exposure to traffic-related pollutants was analyzed.
OEHHA also evaluates health effects of chemicals commonly found in indoor air. OEHHA participates in a number of inter-Agency activities designed to evaluate indoor air quality health issues and to move California toward safer indoor air quality.
OEHHA provides health-related assistance to the Air Resources Board, air pollution control districts, local health officers and environmental health officers.
Reports, Notices, Documents
The study found that increasing temperatures affected mental health not only in the summer, but in the winter as well, showing that increases in temperature affect mental health throughout the year in California.
Adoption of Reference Exposure Levels (RELs) for carbonyl sulfide (COS) for use in the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program
Facts about hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6 (Cr6), the toxic form of the metal chromium.
Efectos del Cromo Hexavalente Sobre la Salud
EGBE REL document revised in response to the comments made by the SRP during the March 4, 2016 meeting. The values proposed are: Acute REL: 4700 µg/m3, 8–Hour REL: 164 µg/m3, Chronic REL: 82 µg/m3
Revised draft document summarizing the carcinogenicity and derivation of an inhalation cancer unit risk factor (URF) for tertiary-Butyl Acetate (TBAc).
Revised inhalation cancer Unit Risk for perchloroethylene is: 6.1 x 10-6 (µg/m3)-1, the inhalation Cancer Slope Factor is 2.1 x 10-2 (mg/kg-day)-1
Summary table of all OEHHA acute, 8-hr and chronic Reference Exposure Levels (chRELs) as of June 2016. Documentation for these values is available in the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Guidance Manual for the Preparation of Health Risk Assessments 2015.
The SRP Review Draft inhalation cancer Unit Risk for perchloroethylene is: 6.1 x 10-6 (µg/m3)-1, the Cancer Slope Factor is 2.1 x 10-2 (mg/kg-day)-1