OEHHA Programs: Overview

Health risks posed by chemicals

Healthy Air: The Air Toxics Hot Spots program sets health guidance values for air pollutants and reviews facility risk assessments to protect nearby communities. Teams: Air and Site Assessment and Climate Indicators Branch (ASACIB)

Safe Drinking Water: OEHHA sets Public Health Goals for contaminants in drinking water; the California State Water Resources Control Board uses these goals to establish enforceable limits as close as feasible. Team: Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch (PETB)

Right to Know: Proposition 65 requires businesses to warn Californians about exposures to chemicals listed by the state. Teams: Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch (RCHAB) and Proposition 65 Implementation Program 

Children’s Environmental Health: The Children’s Environmental Health Center supports CalEPA, educates health professionals and the public, and promotes policies that protect children. Team: ASACIB

Synthetic Food Dyes: A 2021 OEHHA report linked synthetic food dyes to neurobehavioral effects in children. Team: ASACIB

Innovative Toxicology: There are tens of thousands of chemicals in commerce, and OEHHA is developing new ways to identify hidden hazards through computational toxicology and other emerging approaches. Team: New Toxicology Evaluations Section

Climate Change Impacts

Tracking Climate Change Impacts: The Indicators of Climate Change report uses data-driven measures to show how climate change is affecting California’s environment and people, including impacts on Native American Tribes described in their own words. Team: ASACIB

Climate Change and Health Research: This program studies the health impacts of climate change and the equity implications of climate policies. Team: Community and Environmental Epidemiology Research Branch (CEERB)

Tools for Public Health and Health Education

Heat Wave Ranking: CalHeatScore provides easy-to-understand heat risk alerts to help Californians prepare for extreme heat, reduce heat-related illness, and save lives. Team: CEERB

Cumulative Impacts Tool: CalEnviroScreen maps communities most burdened by pollution and most vulnerable to its effects. Team: CEERB

Fish Advisories: OEHHA issues guidelines on how often fish from California waters can be safely eaten, with over 150 advisories available. Team: PETB

Pesticide Safety: OEHHA provides outreach and education, monitors pesticide illness, evaluates toxicity and exposure data, and develops worker health and safety regulations. Team: PETB

Tracking Chemical Exposures

Biomonitoring: Biomonitoring California measures chemicals in people’s bodies to better understand exposures to toxic substances. Team: RCHAB

Emergency Response and Expert Consultation

Oil Spill Response: After oil spills, OEHHA evaluates fish contamination risks and advises whether fisheries should be opened or closed. Team: PETB

Harmful Algal Blooms: OEHHA assesses toxin levels in marine fish and shellfish and investigates reported illnesses from freshwater blooms to guide public health actions. Team: PETB

Contaminated Site Clean-Up: OEHHA supports cleanup of sites such as dry cleaners and former oil and gas operations through risk assessment and toxicological consultation. Team: ASACIB