Life Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Assessment Reports for National Program of Acute Exposure Guidance Levels (September 1998)

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has established a National Advisory Committee (NAC) to develop Acute Exposure Guidance Levels (AEGLs) for hazardous substances. This is comprised of federal and state agencies and the private sector representing industry and non-profit organizations. In a concerted effort, toxicologists from the Toxicology and Risk Analysis Section (TARA) of Life Sciences Division and NAC are to identify, review, and interpret relevant toxicological and other scientific data and develop AEGLs for high priority, acutely toxic chemicals. AEGLs represent ceiling exposure values for the general public and are applicable to emergency exposure periods ranging from less then 1 hour to 8 hours. Three AEGL values will be developed for each of four exposure periods (30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, and 8 hours). Each value will be distinguished by varying degrees of severity of toxic effects as defined by AEGL-1, -2, and -3. These toxicity values will be used for Clean Air Act risk management planning and emergency evacuation determinations. A total of 52 chemicals have been reviewed. NAC/AEGL Meeting 11 was successfully hosted by TARA. (Contact: Po-Yung Lu, pyl@ornl.gov, 574-7803; Funding Source: WFO)