Regression method to estimate provisional TLV/WEEL-equivalents for non-carcinogens.
There is a huge and changing number of chemicals in commerce for which workplace exposure criteria have not been assigned. Assigning an exposure criterion by an expert committee is resource-intensive-not soon available for the large majority of chemicals in current use. In the absence of assigned criteria, we have provided a regression method to estimate a first-screen estimate of a 'TLV/WEEL-equivalent' inhalation time-weighted average exposure criterion for a pure chemical (or chemical group) from a measure of a non-stochastic toxic exposure to elicit a chronic or sub-chronic health effect, known as a lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) or a (highest) no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL). Results are presented for six data sets for which both a threshold limit value (TLV) or workplace environmental exposure level (WEEL) exposure criterion is presently assigned, and a LOAEL or NOAEL measure of toxic health effect was available from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Risk Information System data base. The results can be applied as a first estimate of exposure to substances for which no TLV or WEEL (TLV/WEEL) exists, and also serve as a mechanism for identifying substances for potential re-evaluation of their exposure limit, based on their relative position about the prediction models.
Whaley
D A
DA
Department of Industrial Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6070, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. dwhaley2@wvu.edu
Attfield
M D
MD
Bedillion
E J
EJ
Walter
K M
KM
Yi
Q
Q
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational