Risk Assessment for Dioxin and Related Compounds
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA has been working on a revised risk assessment since its Science Advisory Board declined to approve its 1994 draft risk assessment in 1995. The SAB criticisms focused principally on the risk characterization chapter (intended to summarize the overall risk assessment) and the dose-response analysis, but it also noted the significance of efforts under way to develop new information on exposure (particularly in foods) and exposure time trends, and the need to provide separate risk information for PCBs.
The continual development of new information on dioxin, including data on exposure and time trends, coupled with competing priorities, has complicated the revision process. The next public step in the revision process will be for the agency to schedule a new review of a revised draft by its Science Advisory Board. This review has been expected for some time, but is still not scheduled. Agency sources now indicate a revised draft may be presented to the SAB in Fall 1999. In the meantime, the SAB is interested in receiving nominations for the special ad hoc committee that will conduct the review.