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Proposed Public Health Goals for Benzo(a)Pyrene, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD)

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is announcing an additional 30-day public comment period for the draft technical support documents for proposed Public Health Goals (PHGs) for benzo(a)pyrene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in drinking water. The draft document for benzo(a)pyrene is an update of the risk assessment for the PHG published in 1997. OEHHA proposes to increase the PHG for benzo(a)pyrene to 0.007 parts per billion (ppb) from the current value of 0.004 ppb, based on new and better studies and new methods for estimating cancer risk including incorporation of cancer potency value corrections for early-in-life exposures. The draft document for TCDD incorporates significant changes in calculation of the cancer potency factor from the draft published in June, 2007, which have resulted in decreasing the proposed PHG to 0.05 picograms/liter. These draft documents are posted on the OEHHA web site. OEHHA is soliciting comments on the documents during a 30-day public comment period. The Office previously offered two public comment periods and held a public workshop for each of the chemicals.

This 30-day public comment period is the final request for public input. Written comments must be received at the OEHHA address below by 5:00 p.m. on August 23, 2010 to be considered.

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 1996 requires OEHHA to develop PHGs based exclusively on public health considerations. PHGs published by OEHHA are considered by the California Department of Public Health in setting drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs).

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