Announcement of First Public Comment Period and Workshop for the Draft Public Health Goal for Selenium in Drinking Water

Apr 2, 2010

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 the proposed Public Health Goal (PHG) for selenium in drinking water. A PHG of 0.030 mg/L or 30 parts per billion (ppb) is proposed for selenium in drinking water, based on data from adverse effects of selenium in a human population. This is a new risk assessment, and could be compared to the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal of 50 ppb established by the U.S. EPA in 1991. The draft document is posted on the OEHHA Web site at www.oehha.ca.gov. OEHHA is soliciting comments on the draft report during a 45-day comment period. The Office will also hold a public workshop on May 19, 2010 at the Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, 94612, Room 9, 10 a.m.-12 noon, 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 May 19, 2010 to be considered during this document revision period. The workshop is provided to encourage a dialogue between OEHHA scientists and the public, to discuss the scientific basis of the proposed PHG, 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 our Web site along with responses to the major comments from the public at the workshop and during the public review and scientific 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

¹Codified at Health and Safety Code, section 116270 et seq.

²Health and Safety Code section 116365(c)

³Health and Safety Code section 116365(a) and (b)

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
Attn: PHG project.

[Update] Selenium PHG finalized 12/10/10