Human Health Guidelines

EPA's Risk Assessment Guidelines were developed to help guide EPA scientists in assessing risks to human health from chemicals or other agents in the environment. They also inform EPA decision makers and the general public about these procedures.

EPA published an initial set of five risk assessment guidelines (relating to cancer, mutagenic effects, developmental effects, exposure assessment, and chemical mixtures) in 1986 as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. EPA continues to revise its risk assessment guidelines and to develop new guidelines as experience and scientific understanding evolve.

EPA Cancer Guidelines

• U.S. EPA. 2005. Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment EPA/630/P-03/001F, Mar 2005.
• Previous versions of the Cancer Guidelines include:
  • U.S. EPA. 1999. Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment External Review draft. NCEA-F-0644, Jul 1999.
  • U.S. EPA. 1996. Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment EPA/600/P-92/003C, Apr 1996.
  • U.S. EPA. 1986. Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment EPA/630/R-00/004, Sep 1986.

EPA Risk Guidelines (Other than Cancer)

• U.S. EPA. 1998. Guidelines for Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment EPA/630/R-95/001F, Apr 1998.
• U.S. EPA, 1996. Guidelines for Reproductive Toxicity Risk Assessment EPA/630/R-96/009, Oct 1996.
• U.S. EPA. 1992. Guidelines for Exposure Assessment EPA/600Z-92/001, May 1992.
• U.S. EPA. 1991. Guidelines for Developmental Toxicity Risk Assessment EPA/600/FR-91/001, Dec 1991.
• U.S. EPA. 1987. Risk Assessment Guidelines of 1986. EPA/600/8-87/045, Sep 1987.
• U.S. EPA. 1986. Guidelines for Mutagenicity Risk Assessment EPA/630/R-98/003, Sep 1986.
• U.S. EPA. 1986. Guidelines for the Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Mixtures (PDF) (38 pp, 299 Kb). EPA/630/R-98/002, Sep 1986.