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Notice of Public Comment on Proposed Revised Reference Exposure Levels for Nickel and Nickel Compounds

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is soliciting public comments on a draft document describing proposed revised Reference Exposure Levels (RELs) for nickel and nickel compounds. OEHHA is required to develop guidelines for conducting health risk assessments under the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program (Health and Safety Code Section 44360 (b) (2)). In response to this statutory requirement, OEHHA in 2008 adopted a Technical Support Document (TSD) that contains updated guidelines for the development of acute, 8 hour, and chronic RELs. These guidelines have already been used to develop updated RELs for several chemicals, and OEHHA is now presenting a draft update to the RELs for nickel (and nickel compounds). REL values proposed for Nickel and Nickel compounds are as follows:

  • Acute REL (for a 1-hour exposure): 1.1 µg Ni/m3;
  • 8-Hour REL (for repeated 8-hour exposures): 0.08 µg Ni/m3
  • Chronic REL for nickel and nickel compounds except nickel oxide: 0.015 µg Ni/m3
  • Chronic REL for nickel oxide: 0.06 µg Ni/m3

We are seeking comments on the revised RELs for nickel and nickel compounds, and the application of the revised methodology to protect infants, children and other sensitive subpopulations.  Following this public comment period, the RELs for nickel and nickel compounds and any comments received, along with OEHHA’s response to these comments, will undergo review by the State’s Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants.

The draft documents become available on the OEHHA Home Page at http://www.oehha.ca.gov on June 4, 2010. The availability of the document on this site will commence a 60-day public review period that will end on August 3, 2010.

Public workshops will be held at 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. on July 20 in Diamond Bar and at 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. on July 22, 2010 in Oakland. Location information is as follows:

Room CC2
South Coast Air Quality Management District
21865 Copley Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Room 9
Elihu Harris Building
1515 Clay St., 2nd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Please direct your comments on the documents, in writing or by e-mail, and any inquiries concerning technical matters or availability of the documents to:

Dr. John Budroe
Chief, Air Toxicology and Risk Assessment Section
Air, Community, and Environmental Research Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
1515 Clay Street, 16th Floor
Oakland, CA, 94612

E-mail: John.Budroe@oehha.ca.gov
Telephone: (510) 622-3145

Information about dates and agenda for meetings of the Scientific Review Panel can be obtained from the California Air Resources Board web page at http://www.arb.ca.gov/srp/srp.htm.