IRIS Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (Interagency Science Discussion Draft)

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Abstract

EPA is releasing the draft report, Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene, that was distributed to Federal agencies and White House Offices for comment during the Science Discussion step of the IRIS Assessment Development Process. Comments received from other Federal agencies and White House Offices are provided below with external peer review panel comments.

The draft Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (TCE) provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to TCE. TCE is a chlorinated solvent that has been widely used as a metal degreaser, as a chemical intermediate and extractant, and as a component of some consumer products. TCE is designated as a Hazardous Air Pollutant, is a common groundwater contaminant, and has been found at more than 1,500 hazardous waste sites. TCE enters the atmosphere from vapor degreasing operations or volatilization from contaminated soils, surface waters via direct discharges, and groundwater through leaching from disposal operations and hazardous waste sites. In addition, TCE can be released to indoor air from the use of TCE-containing consumer products, volatilization from water supplies, and vapor intrusion through walls and floors from contaminated soil and groundwater.

Impact/Purpose

The purpose of this Toxicological Review is to provide scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment in IRIS pertaining to chronic exposure to trichloroethylene. It is not intended to be a comprehensive treatise on the chemical or toxicological nature of trichloroethylene.

Status

This assessment has been loaded into the IRIS Web site and Database.

Citation

U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (Interagency Science Discussion Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-09/011D, 2011.

History/Chronology

Date Description
01-Aug 2001EPA released an External review draft Trichloroethylene Health Risk Assessment: Synthesis and Characterization for public review and comment.
02-Dec 2002EPA's Science Advisory Board released an independent peer review report Review of Draft Trichloroethylene Health Risk Assessment: Synthesis and Characterization: An EPA Science Advisory Board Report (PDF, 83 pp, 376 KB, about PDF).
03-Feb 2004EPA hosted a Symposium on New Scientific Research Related to the Health Effects of Trichloroethylene held in Washington, DC.
04-Sep 2004The National Academy of Science (NAS) initiated the project “Assessing the Human Health Risks of Trichloroethylene : Key Scientific Issues” under sponsorship of EPA and other federal agencies.
05-Feb 2005EPA submitted four TCE issue papers on key scientific issues to the NAS.
06-July 2006The National Academy of Science (NAS) released the report Assessing the Human Health Risks of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues Consultation.
07-Sep 2009EPA hosted an interagency science consultation on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene.
08-Oct 2009EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) releases Federal Register Notice requesting nominations of experts for the SAB TCE Review Panel.
09-Nov 2009EPA releases the External Review draft for public comment and review.
10-Dec 2009EPA announced a listening session to be held on January 26, 2010 in the Federal Register Dec 21, 2009, more details can be found in the earlier Decemeber 11, 2009 Federal Register.
11-Jan 2010SAB released the names and biosketches of the "Short List Candidates" for the upcoming TCE Review Panel.
12-Mar 2010SAB hosted two public meetings of the SAB Trichloroethylene (TCE) Review Panel: a teleconference (4/20/10) and a face-to-face meeting (5/10-12) to review EPA's Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (External Review Draft). [Federal Register Mar 31, 2010]
13-Jun/Jul 2010EPA's SAB announced two public meetings of the SAB Trichloroethylene (TCE) Review Panel: a teleconference (6/24/10) and another teleconference (9/13/10) to discuss the review of EPA's Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (External Review Draft). [Federal Register Jun 2, 2010, Federal Register Jul 27, 2010]
14-Dec 2010SAB hosted a public meeting of the SAB Trichloroethylene (TCE) Review Panel: by teleconference held on 12/15/10 to review EPA's Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (External Review Draft). [Federal Register Nov 24, 2010]
15-Jan 2011SAB released the final report, Review of EPA's Draft Assessment entitled "Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene". (PDF, 68 pp., 407, 129 bytes), EPA-SAB-11-002.
16-Jul 2011EPA hosted an interagency science discussion on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of TCE.
17-Sep 2011EPA releases the final toxicological review and IRIS Summary for TCE and the interagency science discussion draft with interagency comments.