US EPA

EPA conducted a peer review of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of cerium oxide and cerium compounds that will appear on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.

The draft Toxicological Review of cerium oxide and cerium compounds provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to cerium oxide and cerium compounds. Cerium oxide is a polishing agent for glass mirrors, plate glass, television tubes, ophthalmic lenses, and precision optics, and is also used in emission control systems in gasoline engines and as a diesel fuel-born catalyst to reduce particulate matter emissions. Cerium is most heavily used in the form of mischmetal, a commercial mixture of metallic light lanthanides, for metallurgical purposes.

This assessment contains the derivation of a chronic reference concentration and a cancer characterization.

The draft Toxicological Review of cerium oxide and cerium compounds provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to cerium oxide and cerium compounds.

Following External Peer Review, the final assessment is scheduled to be posted to the IRIS database.

U.S. EPA, AND M. GEHLHAUS. IRIS Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-08/002A.

Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the key word EPA- HQ-ORD-2008-0111 (for the docket ID).