Chemicals Undergoing Evaluation for Public Health Goal Development in 1999
Under Health and Safety Code Section 116365, as amended by the Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, OEHHA develops and adopts Public Health Goals (PHGs) for chemicals in drinking water. The chemicals undergoing evaluation in 1999 are as follows: aluminum, benzene, carbofuran, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane (DCM), diquat, nickel, perchlorate, simazine, tetrachoroethylene (PCE), thiobencarb, uranium and vinyl chloride. OEHHA plans to hold a public workshop in October on the technical reports supporting the proposed PHGs, provide draft reports on the Web site for public review and comment, and adopt final PHGs by end of 1999. The following information explains more about PHGs and the adoption process.
PHGs are required for drinking water contaminants for which there already is a primary drinking water standard (maximum contaminant level, or MCL) as well as for any newly regulated contaminants. PHGs are concentrations of chemicals in drinking water that are not anticipated to produce adverse health effects after lifetime exposure. They are to be based on risk assessments conducted using "most current principles, practices, and methods used by public health professionals" and certain public health criteria. PHGs are solely health based; the evaluations provide health related information to the California Department of Health Services for consideration of updating state MCLs on the basis of the most recent toxicity data and risk assessment methods. OEHHA has adopted PHGs for 46 chemicals in the last two years. More information can be found on our website here.