IRIS Toxicological Review of Biphenyl (Final Report)
EEPA has finalized the Toxicological Review of Biphenyl: in support of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Now final, this assessment may be used by EPA’s program and regional offices to inform decisions to protect human health.
Biphenyl is an organic compound that forms colorless crystals. It occurs naturally in coal tar, crude oil, and natural gas. Biphenyl was once used in the production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) before they were banned in the late 1970s. It is no longer used as an antimicrobial and a fungicide in the U.S., but it is still used as a fungistat in other countries, most commonly in the packaging of citrus fruits. Today, biphenyl is mainly used in the production of pesticides, as a dye carrier in polyester dyeing, and as a component of heat transfer fluids, which are used for industrial processing applications. Biphenyl is found at multiple Superfund sites and other hazardous waste sites. It is on the list of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and is classified as one of the High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals.
Biphenyl is an organic compound that forms colorless crystals. It occurs naturally in coal tar, crude oil, and natural gas. Biphenyl was once used in the production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) before they were banned in the late 1970s. It is no longer used as an antimicrobial and a fungicide in the U.S., but it is still used as a fungistat in other countries, most commonly in the packaging of citrus fruits. Today, biphenyl is mainly used in the production of pesticides, as a dye carrier in polyester dyeing, and as a component of heat transfer fluids, which are used for industrial processing applications. Biphenyl is found at multiple Superfund sites and other hazardous waste sites. It is on the list of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and is classified as one of the High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals.
Impact/Purpose
EPA is undertaking a new health assessment for biphenyl for the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). The outcome of this project will be a Toxicological Review and IRIS and IRIS Summary of biohenyl 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 exposure assessment information to evaluate potential public health risks associated with environmental contaminants. The IRIS database is relied on for the development of risk assessments sites-specific environmental decisions, and rule making.
Status
Following external peer review and public comment, the assessment will be revised taking into consideration the comments received. It will then undergo a final internal review by EPA and other federal agencies and White House offices. After completing the review it will be posted to the IRIS database.
Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Biphenyl (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-11/005F, 2011.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Aug 1989 | The RfD for 1,1-biphenyl was posted to the IRIS Database. |
| Mar 1991 | The cancer assessment for 1,1-biphenyl was posted to the IRIS database. |
| Sep 2011 | EPA hosted an interagency science consultation on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of Biphenyl. |
| Sep 2011 | EPA released the external review draft of the biphenyl assessment for public review and comment. [Federal Register Notice Sep 30, 2011] |
| Jun 2012 | EPA released the comments from the public comment period and external review workshop. |
| Aug 2013 | EPA posted the final Toxicological Review of Biphenyl to the IRIS database. |
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Biphenyl (PDF) (225 pp, 2 MB, about PDF)
- IRIS Summary for Biphenyl (PDF) (28 pp, 265 KB, about PDF)