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IRIS Toxicological Review and Summary Documents for Trichloroacetic Acid
Citation:
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review and Summary Documents for Trichloroacetic Acid. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-09/003.
Impact/Purpose:
EPA is undertaking an update of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health assessment for Trichloroacetic Acid . The outcome of this project will be an updated Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary of Trichloroacetic Acid that will be entered on the IRIS data base. IRIS is an EPA data base containing Agency scientific positions on potential adverse human health effects that may result from chronic (or lifetime) exposure to chemicals in the environment. IRIS contains chemical-specific summaries of qualitative and quantitative health information in support of two steps of the risk assessment process, i.e., hazard identification and dose-response evaluation. IRIS assessments are used nationally and internationally in combination with specific situational exposure assessment information to evaluate potential public health risks associated with environmental contaminants. The IRIS data base is relied on for the development of risk assessments, site-specific environmental decisions, and rule making.
Description:
Trichloroacetic acid is a crystalline solid with sharp, pungent odor. It is used as a soil sterilizer; and as a laboratory intermediate or reagent in the synthesis of a variety of medicinal products and organic chemicals. Trichloroacetic acid is also used industrially as an etching and pickling agent for the surface treatment of metals and as a solvent in the plastics industry. Trichloroacetic acid can be formed as a combustion byproduct of organic compounds in the presence of chlorine. It is also formed as a disinfection by-product (DBP) during water chlorination. The existing IRIS entry was added to the IRIS data base between 1994 and 1996. No RfD was developed. The IRIS program is updating the IRIS assessment for Trichloroacetic Acid. This update will incorporate health effects information published since the last assessment was prepared as well as new risk assessment methods. The IRIS assessment for Trichloroacetic Acid will consist of a Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary. The Toxicological Review is a critical review of the physicochemical and toxicokinetic properties of the chemical and its toxicity in humans and experimental systems. The assessment will present reference value for noncancer effects of Trichloroacetic Acid (RfD) and a cancer assessment. The Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary will be subject to internal peer consultation, Agency review and external scientific peer review. The final products will constitute the Agency's opinion on the toxicity of Trichloroacetic Acid.
URLs/Downloads:
Peer Review Plan (PDF, NA pp, 32 KB, about PDF)Link to Peer Review Report Trichloroacetic acid (PDF, NA pp, 4 KB, about PDF)