HP3 Metals in the Environment: Regulatory and Risk Concerns
254 Portland Ballroom
1:20 PM - 5:20 PM, Thursday
() Overview of the Development of the Framework for Metals Risk Assessment.
Wentsel, R1, Fairbrother, A2, 1 US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, USA2 US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Corvallis, OR, USA
ABSTRACT- The assessment of metals and metal compounds raises issues not generally encountered with organic chemicals. For example, metals are neither created nor destroyed by biological and chemical processes, rather they are transformed from one chemical species to another, some metals are essential elements, and bioavailability of metals to humans and ecological receptors raises complex issues. In recognition that metals have unique issues when assessing risks, and the complexity of addressing these issues consistently across the Agency's various programs is a concern, the U.S. EPA initiated the development of a Metals Framework. The Framework will be a science-based document that focuses on the special attributes and behavior of metals and metal compounds affecting their assessment. It will present a consistent approach to address metals in human and ecological risk assessments. This paper will discuss the current status of the development of the Framework.
Key words: risk assessment, metals