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Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is a scientific process of evaluating the adverse effects caused by a substance, activity, lifestyle, or natural phenomenon. OEHHA is responsible for developing and providing risk managers in state and local government agencies with toxicological and medical information relevant to decisions involving public health. State agency users of such information include all boards and departments within Cal/EPA, as well as the Department of Public Health, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Justice.

Several laws and regulations govern OEHHA's risk assessment work.

Reports, Notices, Documents

Feb 1, 2006: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers: Recommendations to Reduce Exposure in California
In addition to the specific legislative mandates, OEHHA has other programs that are relevant to green chemistry, such as researching safer alternatives to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. A report of the Cal/EPA PBDE Workgroup titled "Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers: Recommendations to Reduce Exposure in California" is attached.
Dec 23, 2005: Final Report: Child-Specific Reference Doses (chRDs) for School Site Risk Assessment: Cadmium, Chlordane, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Methoxychlor, and Nickel
Release of the final technical document establishing chRDs for six chemicals to be used in school site risk assessments, including cadmium (1.1 x 10^-5 mg/kg-day), chlordane (3.3 x 10^-5 mg/kg-day), heptachlor (3.0 x 10^-5 mg/kg-day), heptachlor epoxide (1.3 x 10^-5 mg/kg-day), methoxychlor (2.0 x 10^-5 mg/kg-day), and Nickel (1.1 x 10^-2 mg/kg-day).

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