IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Interagency Science Consultation Draft, 2014)
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Abstract
On April 29, 2016, the Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol (tert-Butanol or tBA) (Public Comment Draft) was released for public comment. The draft Toxicological Review and charge were reviewed internally by EPA and by other federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President during Step 3 (Interagency Science Consultation) before public release. As part of the IRIS process, all written interagency comments on IRIS assessments will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments with EPA's response and the interagency science consultation drafts of the IRIS Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol and charge to external peer reviewers are posted on this site.
Tert-butyl alcohol (tert-butanol) is used as a solvent; as a denaturant for ethanol and several other alcohols; in the manufacture of flotation agents, fruit essences, and perfumes; as an octane booster in gasoline; as a dehydrating agent; and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate. tert-Butanol's production for industrial uses may result in its direct release to the environment through various waste streams. tert-Butanol is also a likely degradation product of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Probable routes of human exposure to tert-butanol include inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
Tert-butyl alcohol (tert-butanol) is used as a solvent; as a denaturant for ethanol and several other alcohols; in the manufacture of flotation agents, fruit essences, and perfumes; as an octane booster in gasoline; as a dehydrating agent; and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate. tert-Butanol's production for industrial uses may result in its direct release to the environment through various waste streams. tert-Butanol is also a likely degradation product of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Probable routes of human exposure to tert-butanol include inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
Impact/Purpose
EPA is undertaking a new health assessment for t-butyl alcohol (tert-butanol) for the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). The outcome of this project will be a Toxicological Review and IRIS and IRIS Summary of TBA that will be entered on the IRIS database. IRIS is an EPA database 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 to evaluate potential public health risks associated with environmental contaminants. The IRIS database is relied on for the development of risk assessments, site-specific environmental decisions, and rule making.
Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Interagency Science Consultation Draft, 2014). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-14/378, 2014.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Aug 2013 | EPA released Preliminary Assessment Materials (draft literature searches and associated search strategies, evidence tables and exposure response arrays) in anticipation for discussion at an upcoming IRIS Public Science Meeting. |
| Dec 2013 | EPA discussed tert-butanol at the December 2013 IRIS public science meeting. |
| Sep 2014 | EPA sent an interagency science consultation draft for review and comment. |
| May 2016 | EPA released the public comment draft for public review and comment. Additionally, the interagency science consultation draft, comments from reviewers, and EPA’s responses to selected major interagency comments were also released. |
| Jun 2016 | EPA discussed the tBA (public comment draft) at the June 29-30, 2016 IRIS Public Science Meeting. |
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.
- IRIS Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol (Interagency Science Consultation Review Draft) (PDF) (142 pp, 3 MB, about PDF)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol - Supplementary Information (Interagency Science Consulation Draft) (PDF) (89 pp, 1 MB, about PDF)
- Charge to Reviewers (Interagency Science Consulation Draft) (PDF) (3 pp, 126 KB, about PDF)
- EPA's Response to Select Interagency Comments on the assessment for tert-Butanol (PDF) (5 pp, 177 KB, about PDF)
- 1. OMB/OSTP tert-Butyl Alcohol IASC Comments Nov 2014 (PDF) (1 pp, 133 KB, about PDF)
- 2. NTP tert-Butyl Alcohol IASC Comments Nov 2014 (PDF) (3 pp, 231 KB, about PDF)
- IRIS Public Science Meeting (Dec 2013)
- IRIS Public Science Meeting (Jun 2016)