EPA Release Of TMBs Risk Review Marks First Final IRIS Analysis Since 2014

摘要

EPA has published its final Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment of a trio of isomers of trimethylbenzenes (TMBs) found in petroleum, engine exhaust and some hydraulic fracturing fluids, the first assessment that the IRIS program has completed since the December 2014 release of the Libby amphibole asbestos analysis. EPA announced Sept. 9 the final IRIS assessment for the TMB isomers. Its release, nearly two years after that of the last final IRIS assessment, follows several years of efforts to overhaul the program in the face of longstanding criticism over its limited output and questions about its scientific underpinnings. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. (Doc. ID: 194583) Ken Olden, who headed EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment until his retirement July 31, acknowledged in June the tradeoff of making process improvements to the overall IRIS program rather than producing more assessments.