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Derivation of An Acute Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure to Naphthalene (Final Report)
EPA announced the availability of the final report, Derivation of an Acute Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure to Naphthalene.
Citation:
U.S. EPA. Derivation of An Acute Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure to Naphthalene (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-21/292, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
This document contains scientific evaluations provided in response to a request for site technical support with limited scope. The evaluations herein are intended to address specific scientific questions posed to assessors with applicable experience. Therefore, the evaluations are written for a specific scientific audience. The observations provided are intended to assist EPA assessors with relevant and innovative science to help meet site-specific environmental goals. The observations are provided in good faith, and due to the limited scope of technical support requests include potential uncertainty. This memorandum is not to be considered the only source of information for decision making, nor should the information provided here be parsed. It would be advisable to consider this memorandum in conjunction with multiple lines of evidence, including history, experience of site managers, and other pertinent information available to EPA staff that retain the duties and responsibilities of all decisions and regulatory actions at the site.
Description:
EPA is announcing the availability of this final report, Derivation of an Acute Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure to Naphthalene, prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment. Naphthalene is a volatile organic compound that occurs naturally and is also manufactured for commercial use. Naphthalene has been detected in ambient air due to industrial emissions, biomass combustion, and use of fossil fuels, and may be present in indoor air due to wood burning, tobacco smoking, and use of naphthalene-containing moth repellents (ATSDR, 2005). Inhalation exposure to naphthalene has been found to induce respiratory inflammation and cytotoxicity, with neoplastic lesions resulting from chronic exposure in animal models (ATSDR, 2005).