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

Oct 2, 2007: Green Chemistry: Workshop Materials and Speaker Presentations from the OEHHA-COEH Workshop Held on October 1st and 2nd, 2007

Workshop dates October 1st & 2nd, 2007

Apr 17, 2007: Final Report: Child-Specific Benchmark Change in Blood Lead Concentration for School Site Risk Assessment

Release of the final technical document establishing the child-specific blood lead concentration (chRC) determination for lead (a source specific increase of 1.0 µg/dL blood) for use in school site risk assessments

Jan 1, 2007: Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products

Explores the potential health risks to children of using outdoor playground and track surfaces constructed from recycled waste tires.

Jul 3, 2006: Final Report: Child-Specific Reference Doses (chRDs) for School Site Risk Assessment: Manganese and Pentachlorophenol

Release of final technical document establishing ChRDs for Manganese (3.0 x 10^-2 mg/kg-day) and Pentachlorophenol (1.0 x 10^-3 mg/kg-day) to be used in school site risk assessments

Apr 14, 2006: Comment Period- Final Draft Child-Specific Reference Doses (chRDs) for School Site Risk Assessment: Manganese and Pentachlorophenol

Request for public comment at the workshop on the final draft chRDs for manganese and pentachlorophenol