Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Using publicly available information to create exposure and risk-based ranking of chemicals used in the workplace and consumer products

Abstract

Mandates that require the estimation of exposure and human health risk posed by large numbers of chemicals present regulatory managers with a significant challenge. Although these issues have been around for some time, the estimation of human exposure to chemicals from use of products in the workplace and by the consumer has been generally hindered by the lack of good tools. Logically and in the interest of cost-effective resource allocation and regulation one would typically and naturally first attempt to rank-order or prioritize the chemicals according to the human exposure potential that each might pose. We have developed an approach and systematic modeling construct that accomplishes this critical task by providing a quantitative estimate of human exposure for as many as several hundred chemicals initially; however, it could ultimately do this for any number of regulated chemicals starting only with the identity (Chemical Abstract Service number) for each chemical under consideration. These exposure estimates can then be readily linked to toxicological benchmarks for each item to estimate and rank the human health risk for the chemicals under consideration in a “worst things first” listing. This modeling construct, entitled Complex Exposure Tool (ComET) was developed by The LifeLine Group as a proof of concept under the sponsorship of Health Canada. ComET considers multiple routes of exposure, multiple subpopulations and different possible durations of exposure. A β-version of ComET was issued and demonstrated in which users can change the assumptions in the model and see the impacts of these changes and the quality of information as they relate to the predicted exposure potential. We have advanced the operational elements of ComET into a tool entitled the Chemical Exposure Priority Setting Tool (CEPST) designed to provide quantitative estimation of the exposure potential of large groups of chemicals with little data and possibly multiple exposure scenarios. A basic feature of this tool is the utilization of an internally consistent approach and assumptions that are completely transparent. It uses publicly available information as critical input and is specifically designed to be continually reviewed, refined, expanded and updated using scientific peer review and stakeholder input.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cohen M.A., Ryan P.B., Yanagisawa Y., Spengler J.D., Özkaynak H., and Epstein P.S. Indoor–outdoor measurements of volatile organic compounds in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia. J Air Pollut Control Assoc 1989: 39: 1086–1093.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis G.A., Swanson M., and Jones S., Comparative Evaluation of Chemical Ranking and Scoring Methodologies, University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies, EPA Order No. 3N-3545-NAEX, 7 April 1994 http://eerc.ra.utk.edu/clean/pdfs/CECRSM.pdf (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • Environment Canada. Domestic Chemical List (DSL), 2008. Available at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/subs_list/Domestic.cfm (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • European Commission. “What is REACH?”, 2008. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • European Union. REACH Compliance, Exposure Assessment, B-Lands Consulting, World Trade Center, 5 Place Robert Schuman, BP 1510, 38025 Grenoble, France 2007 Available online at: http://www.reach-compliance.eu/english/compliance/EA/exposure-assessment.html (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • GAO. Chemical Regulation: Options Exist to Improve EPA's Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage its Chemical Review Program TSCA Reauthorization, Government Accounting Office, Report to Congressional Requestors, GAO-05-458, June 2005.

  • Howard P.H., and Meylan W.M. Prediction of Physical Properties, Transport, and Degradation for Environmental Fate and Exposure Assessments. In: Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships in Environmental Sciences, VII, Proceedings QSAR 96. F. Chen and G. Schuurmann, ed. 1997, SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL.

  • Howard P.H., Meylan W.M., and Boethling R.S., Prediction of Physical Properties and Environmental Fate Using SRC EPIWIN for Pollution Prevention, EPI Suite Version 3.20, Syracuse Research Corporation Environmental Science Center, 6225 Running Ridge Road, North Syracuse, NY 13212, 6 September 2007. Available online: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/exposure/pubs/episuitedl.htm (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • JRC. European Chemical Bureau, European Chemical Information System (ECIS), European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS), 2008. Available at http://ecb.jrc.it/esis/index.php?PGM=ein (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • Lyman W.J., Reehl W.F., and Rosenblatt D.H., Eds. 1990. Handbook of Chemical Property Estimation Methods,. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKay D. 2004 Personal communication.

  • Mulhausen J.R., and Damiano J., Eds. 1998. A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures, Second edition, p. 16, AIHA Press, The American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA. High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge 2008a Available at: http://www.epa.gov/HPV/ (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • US EPA. Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, TSCA Inventory Listing,, 2008b. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems/pubs/invntory.htm (Accessed 20 February 2008).

  • Wallace L.A. Comparison of Risks from Outdoor and Indoor Exposure to Toxic Chemicals. Environ Health Perspect 1991: 95: 7–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Work on these tools was partially funded by Health Canada.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael A Jayjock.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jayjock, M., Chaisson, C., Franklin, C. et al. Using publicly available information to create exposure and risk-based ranking of chemicals used in the workplace and consumer products. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 19, 515–524 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2008.43

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2008.43

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links