[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 18640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9341]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7484-5]


Toxicological Review of Benzene--Noncancer Effects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the final document, 
Toxicological Review of Benzene--Noncancer Effects (EPA/635/R-02/001F), 
prepared by the Office of Research and Development's (ORD) National 
Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA).

ADDRESSES: The document is available on NCEA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ncea under the What's New and Publications menus. A limited 
number of paper copies will be available from EPA's National Service 
Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), P.O. Box 42419, 
Cincinnati, OH 45242; telephone: 1-800-490-9198 or 513-489-8190; 
facsimile: 513-489-8695. Please provide your name and mailing address 
and the title and EPA number of the requested publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact David Bayliss, National Center for Environmental Assessment-
Washington (8623D), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone: 202-564-3294; facsimile: 202-565-0078; e-mail: 
[email protected]. For general information contact: Technical 
Information Staff, NCEA-W (8623D), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 202-564-3261; facsimile: 202-
565-0050; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Toxicological Review of Benzene--
Noncancer Effects characterizes the potential noncancer health hazards 
associated with environmental exposure to benzene. This toxicological 
review will serve as a scientific document for hazard identification 
and dose-response assessment in updating the noncancer health effects 
summary on benzene in the EPA's Integrated Risk Information System 
(IRIS).
    The Toxicological Review concludes that chronic benzene exposure 
may pose several types of noncancer human health hazards. 
Hematotoxicity, e.g., progressive deterioration of hematopoietic 
function, has been consistently reported to be the most sensitive 
indicator of noncancer toxicity in both experimental animal studies and 
occupationally exposed humans. The hazards can result from inhalation, 
oral or dermal exposure, though the exposure circumstances vary. The 
Toxicological Review includes estimates of chronic exposure levels for 
oral exposure (reference dose) and inhalation exposure (reference 
concentration) that are thought to be without appreciable risk.
    Earlier drafts of the assessment were subjected to independent 
expert peer review, as well as to public review and comment. The 
comments of the expert panel and the public are addressed in the 
revisions of the draft document.

    Dated: April 10, 2003.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 03-9341 Filed 4-15-03; 8:45 am]
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