marquez, diana, burns & mcdonnell, epa's iris database: what can we expect in the future,...

EPA’s IRIS Database:What Can We Expect in the Future?

Diana Y. Marquezdmarque@burnsmcd.com 816-822-3453

May 14, 2015 Midwest Environmental Conference

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What is IRIS? Why Do I Care?

► EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System► Top Source of Toxicity Data► Key Resource for Risk Assessment and

Risk-Based Cleanup Levels

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Why Change the Program?

► 2011 NRC Recommendations• Improve clarity of IRIS assessment• Describe methods of the assessment• Assess disciplinary structure of teams• Standardize approach

Including/excluding studiesEvaluate strengths/weaknesses of critical studiesRationale for studies used to calculate tox values Integration of evidence

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What are the Changes?

► New document structure – Done► Methods and Criteria Preamble – Done► Improved Public Comment/Peer Review – Done► Improved Stakeholder Engagement – Done► Stopping Rules – Done► Identifying/Selecting Studies – Done► Approach to Evaluating Evidence – Done► Integration of Evidence – In progress► Needs Assessment – In progress

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Questions?► Diana Marquez► 816-822-3453► dmarque@burnsmcd.com