ATSDR PROPOSAL FOR NANO RISK STUDY COULD PROMPT EPA CLEANUP LEVELS

摘要

The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), the federal agency that develops toxicological profiles for Superfund contaminants, is proposing to conduct a landmark review of existing research on nanomaterials that could result in first-time EPA cleanup standards for the unregulated materials. The proposal appears to increase pressure on the agency to develop cleanup standards for nanomaterials at hazardous waste sites at a time when the agency has been struggling to assess the risk and develop regulatory levels for the materials. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details. ATSDR proposed in the Federal Register Oct. 25 a list of 73 contaminants or categories of contaminants to conduct toxicological profiles on in the next year, including existing Superfund contaminants such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and hexavalent chromium, as well as nanomaterials.