Lab Science News

In May 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a response to key comments and recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on the EPA’s 2003 draft dioxin reassessment. This response addresses the human health and exposure risk assessment of dioxins.

The EPA’s draft report includes significant new analyses that relate to issues raised by the NAS, including potential cancer and non-cancer human health effects that may result from exposures to dioxins. The NAS identified three areas that require substantial improvement:

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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon release its response to a 2006 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report recommending changes to the EPA’s 2000 draft assessment of the risks posed by 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin.

Dioxins are environmental contaminants according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website (September 2009). Most human dioxin exposure, however, occurs through the diet, with more than 95% coming through dietary intake of animal fats. Dioxins enter the food chain primarily in an air-to-leaf/soil-to-animal route.

In anticipation of the upcoming release, the EPA has established a special communication committee to address concerns about the safety of the food supply and other public health issues.

The EPA’s Waste Office, in response to this reassessment, is proposing lowering soil screening levels in residential areas from 1000 parts per trillion (ppt) to 72 ppt. However, given reported health risks, there are some that have been urging the EPA to adopt an even stricter 3.7 ppt-level.