Evaluation of over four months of Porter Ranch neighborhood air sample data posted for peak levels of benzene, a toxic chemical in natural gas. Summary of expert input reguarding health measures taken for the Aliso Canyon gas leak.
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 adopted RELs cover different types of exposure to EGBE in air: infrequent 1-hour exposures, repeated 8-hour exposures, and continuous long-term exposure.
OEHHA received a request from the to extend the public comment period. This notice extends the comment period to February 14, 2018.
OEHHA’s evaluation of trends in exposure and health risk for gasoline-related air pollutants in California for the period 1996 to 2014.
Using emissions data and ambient air-quality measurements from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other sources, OEHHA researchers estimated average gasoline-related exposures and associated health risks statewide and for five major air basins.
This notice extends the comment period to February 14, 2018.
This document will be reviewed and discussed by the Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants at its meeting on December 13, 2017 in Sacramento, CA.
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is releasing two draft documents for public review, summarizing the toxicity and derivation of proposed Reference Exposure Levels (RELs)
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”.