95-8738. The Use of the Benchmark Dose Approach in Health Risk Assessment

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 18101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8738]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5187-3]


The Use of the Benchmark Dose Approach in Health Risk Assessment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a report titled The 
Use of the Benchmark Dose Approach in Health Risk Assessment (EPA/630/
R-94/007). This report was developed to serve as a background document 
for discussing benchmark dose applications to noncancer risk 
assessment.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a single copy of the report, interested parties 
should contact the ORD Publications Office, CERI, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 
45268, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]. Please provide your 
name and mailing address, and request the document by the title and EPA 
number (EPA/630/R-94/007).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clare Stine, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (8101), 401 M Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For almost 10 years, scientists have been 
studying the benchmark dose (BMD) as a promising technique for the 
quantitative assessment of noncancer health effects. The information 
presented in this report is one step in developing the basis for an EPA 
consensus on the role of benchmark methods in the quantitative 
assessment of noncancer health risk. The report presents a basic 
overview of the benchmark method, which may provide an additional 
quantitative approach to current EPA practice.

    The document focuses especially on critical decisions that must be 
made in deriving a BMD and applying the BMD in risk assessment. Major 
decisions in using the BMD are explained, and the sensitivity of the 
final result to each assumption is evaluated. The document also 
identifies many unresolved issues in benchmark dose application and 
identifies research that may help resolve some of these issues.

    Dated: March 24, 1995.
Robert J. Huggett,
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 95-8738 Filed 4-7-95; 8:45 am]
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