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Air Toxicology and Epidemiology

Substances to be included in the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document "Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels": Phosphine and Triethylamine
[09/03/02]

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In accordance with Health and Safety Code, Section 44300 et seq. (The Air Toxics Hot Spots Information and Assessment Act, AB 2588, Connelly as amended by SB 1731, Calderon), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) hereby adopts Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (RELs) for phosphine and triethylamine (attachment).

OEHHA is mandated to develop risk assessment guidelines to be used by state and local agencies in implementing the Air Toxics Hot Spots program. There are four technical support documents, which have been adopted. These describe the scientific basis for acute RELs, cancer potency factors, chronic RELs, and exposure assessments.

The third technical support document, Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines. Part III. The Determination of Chronic Reference Exposure Levels for Airborne Toxicants, was adopted on February 23, 2000. A chronic REL is an airborne level that would pose no significant health risk to individuals indefinitely exposed to that level. RELs are based solely on health considerations, and are developed from the best available data in the scientific literature. This technical support document provided chronic RELs for 22 chemicals, with a summary for each describing its chemical and physical properties, its chronic health effects, and the data used to calculate the REL. Additional chronic RELs are being developed over time.

The Scientific Review Panel, (SRP) has reviewed a number of other proposed chronic RELs at previous meetings, beginning in September 1999. At its July 26, 2002 meeting, the SRP endorsed additional RELs for phosphine and triethylamine, bringing the total number of chemicals for which chronic RELs are provided to 78 (including three values provided in health assessment documents for the Toxic Air Contaminants Identification Program). The expanded list and supporting summaries will be available on our Web site. Additional RELs are currently undergoing review by the public and the SRP, and revision by OEHHA; these will be presented in due course.

Chronic Reference Exposure Levels Adopted by OEHHA
September 2002

Substance (CAS #)	Chronic Inhalation REL(µg/m3)	Hazard Index Target(s)
Phosphine (7803-51-2)	0.8	Respiratory system; alimentary system; nervous system; kidney; hematopoietic system
Triethylamine (121-44-8)	200	Eyes

More information from the Air Resources Board web site.

Follow this link to download a copy of this adoption memo

Follow this link to view at list of all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels. You may also download individual chemical summaries from this table.