Life Sciences Division
1997-98
Progress Report
- Overview
- Mission
- Structure
- Lab Animal Resources
- Operations & Support
- Mouse Genetics Research
- DNA Sequencing Lab
- Gene Expression Chip Lab
- Dosimetry & Biokinetic
- Life Cycle Analysis
- Environmental Assessment
- Biological Sciences
- Functional Genomics & Proteomics
- Structural Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Technology Applications
Toxicology and Risk Analysis Section
Staff
|
A. E. Adamson |
L. M. Floyd2 |
B. K. Mansfield |
R. H. Ross |
Administrative Support
|
D. G. Arnwine1 |
J. L. Mellon |
L. G. Treadwell1 |
Subcontractors/Consultants
|
L. Bloom |
R. N. Stewart |
Students/Faculty/Postdoctoral Fellow
|
K. Burhenn |
T. Long |
K. Pleiss |
1Retired or terminated employment with Life Sciences Division
in 1997 or 1998
2Part-time
The major goal of this section is to apply scientific and regulatory analysis expertise to develop methods and provide information which will enhance the decision-making process. Objectives in this process are (1) assessing the impact of toxic and hazardous chemicals and other agents on human health and environmental quality, such as the development of acute exposure guideline levels, reference doses/concentrations and slope factors, and review of pesticide registrants' submissions; (2) analyzing federal and state environmental and radiation protection policies, decommissioning and decontamination activities, and energy and utilization; (3) developing computerized toxicological and risk-assessment databases and analysis systems, such as the Genetic Toxicology Database (GeneTox) and the Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS), for predictive toxicity, fate transport modeling, and design of new chemicals; (4) developing PC-based knowledge systems for environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) compliance applications and decision-making systems; these support tools include the Intelligent Materials and Environmental Lifecycle Design Advisor (IMELDA), which facilitates new product design; and the Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA), which combines ES&H risk factors with geospatial information and cost-benefit analysis; (5) providing "value-added" information analysis for projects such as the AIDS/Cancer registries, which elucidate the mechanism of disease progression and treatment; providing support to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Materials Licensing Program by identifying and tracking over 30,000 closed sites requiring remediation as well as accountability for sealed sources; and tracking and follow-up on General Licenses tracking registration; (6) preparing technical communication products for nationally significant programs, such as the technical newsletters Human Genome News, CFCC News, and Energy Crops Forum; and (7) providing responses to queries on toxicological, regulatory, and remedial activities through the use of Toxicology Information Response Center (TIRC) and Remedial Action Program Information Center (RAPIC) resources, which include some 1,200 health and ecological risk documents, a registry dictionary of over 30,000 chemicals and agents, and 200,000 printed references. In all efforts, section staff emphasize the application of new and more efficient methods to the processes of conducting risk assessment, regulatory analysis, and data/information management and dissemination, such as those offered through use of Web-based applications.
The new M&O contractor, Bechtel-Jacobs LLC, now manages the local cleanup activities for the DOE Oak Ridge Operations (DOE-ORO). Due to this transition, work previously performed by TARA has been drastically reduced in this area.
Selected Accomplishments
Assessment Reports for National Program of Acute Exposure Guidance Levels (AEGLs). Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S EPA established a National Advisory Committee (NAC) to develop AEGLs for hazardous substances. The committee is comprised of individuals of federal/state agencies and the private sector representing industry and non-profit organizations. In a concerted effort, TARA's toxicologists and NAC members identify, review, and interpret relevant toxicological and other scientific data and develop AEGL's for high-priority, acutely toxic chemicals. AEGLs represent ceiling exposure values for the general public and are applicable for emergency exposure periods ranging from less than 1 hour to 8 hours. Three AEGL values are developed for each of four exposure periods (30 min., 1-, 4-, and 8 hrs). Each value is distinguished by varying degrees of severity of toxic effects as defined by AEGL-1, -2, and -3,. These toxicity values will be used for the Clean Air Act risk management planning and emergency evacuation determinations. To date, we have developed 19 chemicals for NAS review, 38 chemicals are in proposed status, 11 chemicals are in draft status, and 8 chemicals are awaiting new data.
Office of Pesticide Programs, Document Evaluation Reviews (EPA). Prior to the registration or re-registration of a pesticide, the U.S EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), must determine whether the chemical will cause reasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In the process of making this determination, EPA reviews all data submitted by the registrant to support the effectiveness and safety of the chemical, published reports or studies from the open literature, unpublished reports or studies which bear on the issues at hand, and the chemical's general and environmental chemistry relationship to possible human and domestic animal exposure. TARA assists the OPP in this mission by performing technical and critical evaluations of the data submitted for the registration and re-registration process.
Progress of the Environmental Genome Project (EGP). TARA's Human Genome and Toxicology (HG&T) Group has recently teamed with staff of the Computational Biosciences Section on a project for NIEHS to develop a gene identification resource and database. Specifically, the work involves (1) providing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) with a list of known genes that are involved in responses to environmental agents that may, in turn, influence human susceptibility to disease, and (2) providing additional information for use in selecting a subset of the candidate gene listing for resequencing. This project contributes to the EGP goal of identifying environmental agents--particularly chemicals-- that may cause a genetic-based disease and place the population at risk. Achieving this goal may lead to more effective disease prevention and improved public health.
Management of the Human Genome Management Information System (HGMIS). HGMIS functions as primary communication resource for the Human Genome Program (HGP). HGMIS produces the quarterly Human Genome News (HGN), and the DOE Primer on Molecular Genetics, as well as progress reports on contractor-grantee workshop proceedings. In its role as an information clearinghouse, HGMIS responds to numerous inquiries annually for information about the HGP and requests for copies of DOE- or HGMIS-generated publications. A text-based World Wide Web server is maintained that provides excellent coverage of topics relevant to the HGP for scientists and non-scientists. The work of HGMIS contributes to the increased use of HGP-generated resources, the reduction of duplicative research efforts, and the fostering of collaborations and contributions from other disciplines that benefit the HGP and DOE-OBER's research interests. As more research results and discoveries become available from the HGP each year, the role of HGMIS increases in importance.
DOE-ORO Risk Assessment Program. During this report period, TARA staff continued to provide support to the DOE-ORO Risk Assessment Program by managing the integration activities for all risk assessments conducted at ORO Sites. As part of this effort we developed improved risk assessment methods such as statistical applications for the identification of site-related contamination and revised ORO-specific risk assessment guidance. This work also included the maintenance of the Environmental Management Risk Ranking System, a critical tool employed in the determination of project sequencing for all ORO-EM projects.
Interaction with DOE Center for Risk Excellence. The section provided technical support to the DOE Center for Risk Excellence (CRE). This included the development of Web sites and links to available risk information, improvements to the Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS); demonstrated the RAIS system to various field offices (the use of the RAIS has increased by 400% since this effort began); participated on a team of CRE and Operations Office representatives to develop risk guidance for the DOE Paths to Closure document, and completed the OR Risk Profile.
Environmental Technology Verification of Environmental Decision Support Software (EPA). The Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program was created by the EPA to facilitate the deployment of innovative technologies by substantially accelerating the acceptance and use of improved and cost-effective technologies. The goal of the ETV Program is to promote environmental protection. TARA provides support to ETV by designing and conducting performance evaluations of environmental decision support software. The evaluations focus on the utility of decision support software in addressing environmental problems. Three endpoints were selected for technical evaluation: (1) Visualization, (2) Sample Optimization, and (3) Cost/Benefit Analysis. In CY 1998, evaluations were conducted on six environmental decision support softwares to verify their performance.
Impact of Deregulation on Electric Utility Industry (NRC). TARA assisted NRC in evaluating the impact of deregulation on the long-term ability of power reactor licensees to adequately finance safe operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants, whether the plant is operated to the end of its licensed term or is shut down prematurely. TARA provided evaluations of state deregulation and restructuring initiatives which affect the traditional cost of service regulation of NRC power reactor licensees in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Each state's restructuring initiative was analyzed with particular attention paid to issues of stranded costs, going-forward costs and decommissioning costs as they applied to nuclear power plants and their safe operation.