In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a toxicological review of inorganic arsenic in a Federal Register Notice from February 19, 2010. The review is based on the agency’s revision of a scientific assessment carried out by its Science Advisory Board on the human health cancer hazard and dose-response assessment of inorganic arsenic. The document is available for public comment for 60 days, however EPA says it can only guarantee comments submitted by 26 March will be considered by the SAB. Eventually the assessment will be included in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.
Background:The USA is importing the highest amount of arsenic on a global scale. Inorganic arsenic is used for hardening copper and lead alloys. It also
is used in glass manufacturing as a decolorizing and refining agent, as a
component of electrical devices, in the semiconductor industry, and as a
catalyst in the production of ethylene oxide. Arsenic compounds are
used as a mordant in the textile industry, for preserving hides, as
medicinals, pesticides, pigments, and wood preservatives. Approximately
90% of the domestic consumption of arsenic is currently used with
production of chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood preservative, the
production of which is currently being phased out.
Arsenic is also found naturally in the environment and is typically
present in soil and water at detectable levels. Sources of human
exposure to inorganic arsenic include drinking water, diet, air, and
soils (which can contain naturally occurring arsenic or contamination
from anthropogenic sources).
IRIS Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic (Cancer)EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) conducted a review of the scientific
basis supporting the human health cancer hazard and dose-response
assessment of inorganic arsenic that will appear on the Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS) database. EPA revised the assessment and is
now returning the assessment to the SAB and releasing the document to
the public for a focused review of EPA's responses to the SAB
recommendations.
This draft IRIS health assessment
addresses only cancer human health effects that may result from chronic
exposure to this chemical. An assessment of noncancer health effects of
inorganic arsenic will be released for external peer review and public
comment at a later date.
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-2010-0123 (for the docket ID).
Following external peer review of the report, the final assessment will
be posted to the IRIS database.
Related Information
EPA Announcement on IRIS Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic (Cancer) (External
Review Draft) Federal Register Notice from February 19, 2010 about the Draft Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic IRIS
Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic (Cancer) (External Review
Draft) (PDF) Charge
to External Peer Reviewers (SAB) (PDF)
SAB. Advisory on EPA’s Assessments of Carcinogenic Effects
of Organic and Inorganic Arsenic: A Report of the US EPA Science
Advisory Board (July 2007) (PDF) U.S.EPA. Toxicological Review of Ingested Inorganic
Arsenic: in Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS) July 2005 (PDF) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
Related EVISA Resources
Link Database: Toxicity of Inorganic Arsenic Link Database: Industrial Use of Inorganic Arsenic Brief summary: Toxicity of arsenic species
Related EVISA News
September 5, 2008: Exposure to inorganic arsenic may increase diabetes risk March 15, 2008: Arsenic in rice milk exceeds EU and US drinking water standards September 7, 2006: Toxic inorganic arsenic species found in Japanese seaweed food March 7, 2007: Elevated Arsenic Levels Found In Rice Grown In South Central States of
the USA August 3, 2005: Surprisingly high concentrations of toxic arsenic species found in U.S.
rice June 27, 2005: Susceptibility to arsenic toxicity influenced by genes May 17, 2005: Arsenic in Pressure-Treated Lumber - Enhancing Childrens Cancer Risks
last time modified: May 20, 2024
