Draft Public Health Goals for Chlorobenzene, Endothall, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Silvex, and Trichlorofluoromethane
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of a draft technical support document for proposed updates of the Public Health Goals (PHGs) for chlorobenzene, endothall, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, silvex, and trichlorofluoromethane in drinking water. This draft document presents updates of these PHGs, originally published in 2003, 1997, 1999, 2003, and 1997, respectively. The updates consider recent toxicological literature and incorporate updated water consumption rates, and when appropriate, benchmark dose modeling, and dermal and inhalation routes of exposure.
OEHHA is soliciting comments on the draft report during a 45-day comment period. The Office will also hold a public workshop on December 16, 2013 at the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California, 95814, Training Room 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., or until business is concluded. OEHHA follows the requirements set forth in Health and Safety Code Sections 57003(a) and 116365 for conducting the workshop and receiving public input.
Written comments must be received at the OEHHA address below by 5:00 p.m. on December 16, 2013 to be considered. The workshop is provided to enable a dialogue between OEHHA scientists and the public, to discuss the scientific bases of the proposed PHG updates, and to receive comments. Following the workshop, OEHHA will evaluate all the comments received, revise the document as appropriate, and make it available for another 30-day comment period. After any subsequent revisions, the final document will be posted on the OEHHA web site along with responses to the major comments submitted at the workshop and during the public comment periods.
The PHG technical support documents provide information on the health effects of contaminants in drinking water. The PHG is a level of drinking water contaminant at which adverse health effects are not expected to occur from a lifetime of exposure. The California Safe Drinking Water Act of 19961 requires OEHHA to develop PHGs based exclusively on public health considerations.2 PHGs published by OEHHA are considered by the California Department of Public Health in setting drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs).3
If you would like to receive further information on this announcement or have questions, please contact our office at (510) 622-3170 or the address below.
Hermelinda Jimenez (hermelinda.jimenez@oehha.ca.gov)
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Environmental Protection Agency
1515 Clay St., 16th floor
Oakland, California 94612
Attention: PHG Project
1 Codified at Health and Safety Code, section 116270 et. seq.
2 Health and Safety Code section 116365(c)
3 Health and Safety Code section 116365(a) and (b)