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Announcement of a Public Comment Period and Notice of the Availability of a Draft Report on California Human Health Screening Levels for Beryllium
[09/26/08]

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is making available the draft report, “California Human Health Screening Levels for Beryllium,” on September 26, 2008.  This draft report updates the California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs) for beryllium oxide, beryllium sulfate and beryllium and beryllium compounds, released in 2005.  The update was prompted by a reevaluation of the initial basis for these CHHSLs and a newer OEHHA assessment of beryllium’s toxicity.  These soil screening numbers were developed as required by Health and Safety Code Section 57008.  The screening numbers have no regulatory authority and are published solely as reference values that may be used by citizen groups, community organizations, property owners, developers, and local government officials to determine whether sites that would likely need further action if a full risk assessment were conducted.  How these soil screening levels should be applied is explained in “Use of California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs) in Evaluation of Contaminated Properties,” released by Cal/EPA in 2005.          

The comment period will end on October 27, 2008.

The rational for the change in the beryllium CHHSLs is described in this draft report.  The draft report is available to the public here.

If you would like to receive further information on this announcement or have questions, please contact our office at (916) 324-2829 or the address below.  Written requests or comments should be addressed to:

Mr. Leon Surgeon
Integrated Risk Assessment Branch
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
P.O. Box 4010, MS-12B
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
FAX: (916) 322-9705
E-mail:  irab@oehha.ca.gov

 
 
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