Toxicology Section of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) TSCC-HH TCEQ Representatives Joseph Kip Haney & Vincent Leopold

Transcription

1 Toxicology Section of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) TSCC-HH TCEQ Representatives Joseph Kip Haney & Vincent Leopold

2 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality The state EPA 16 Regional TCEQ Offices HQ in Austin Toxicology Section

3 Toxicology Section Assesses toxicity & risk Supports most programs in TCEQ, but mainly > Air permitting > Air monitoring > Remediation risk assessment Also supports other programs/functions (e.g., surface water quality, HB3030, homeland security, rule writing, public hearings)

4 Air Permit Reviews of Proposed Emissions Toxicologist Permit Applicant Air Permit Engineer Criteria & other pollutants: must meet state/federal standards; screening procedure for air permit referral to Toxicology Section Non-criteria pollutants: use Effects Screening Levels (ESLs)

5 Air Permit Reviews (cont.) Texas Clean Air Act requires ALL emissions from ALL sources to be authorized even BBQ pits and water heaters TCEQ has different types of permits generally based on complexity > De minimus > Permit By Rule > Standard Permit > New Source Permit

6 Effects Screening Levels (ESLs) Currently used for both air permitting & monitoring Consider health and welfare effects > Health: Acute (e.g., respiratory irritation) Chronic (e.g., cancer) > Welfare: Odor Vegetation effects New Guidance document almost complete (Development of ESLs, ReVs, and URFs)

7 Air Monitoring Evaluate ambient air toxics concentrations

8 Air Monitoring (cont.) Various analytes (e.g., VOCs, carbonyls, metals) Fixed site monitors (~ 82 sites) Mobile monitoring Field Ops > Emergency Response > Homeland Security

9 Air Monitoring (cont.) Data reviewed to: > assess the potential for a measured air toxic concentration to cause acute or chronic health effects and odors > identify pollution sources > evaluate air permit applications

10 Annual Averages (ppb) Monitoring Benzene at a Corpus Christi site Benzene Concentration (parts per billion by volume) hour Screening Level TCEQ Benzene Air Monitoring 3810 Huisache Street, Corpus Christi AIRS No Sep-97 Nov-97 Jan-98 Mar-98 May-98 Jul-98 Sep-98 Nov-98 Jan-99 Mar-99 May-99 Jul-99 Sep-99 Nov-99 Jan-00 Mar-00 May-00 Jul-00 Sep-00 Nov-00 Jan-01 Mar-01 May-01 Jul-01 Sep-01 Nov-01 Jan-02 Mar-02 May-02 Jul-02 Sep-02 Nov-02 Jan-03 Mar-03 May-03 Jul-03 Benzene Health Effects and Regulatory Levels 24-Hour Sample Date Benzene Concentration in Air (parts per billion, ppb) Short-Term Exposure Long-Term Exposure (less than 14 days) (months to years) 100,000,000 Death Drowziness Dizziness Headache 10,000,000 1,000, ,000 Eye Irritation OSHA 15-minute Standard OSHA Action Level TCEQ short-term Screening Level 10,000 1, Leukemia OSHA 8-hour Standard EPA Acceptable Cancer Risk TCEQ long-term Screening Level Monitored long-term Benzene Levels, TCEQ Corpus Christi Sites

11 Air Monitoring (cont.) In some cases, toxicology reviews DSHS cancer cluster studies in conjunction with long-term ambient air data Toxicology also supports TCEQ Field Operations Division and Emergency Response Strike Team, TCEQ Media Relations, and talks to concerned citizens

12 Remediation Risk Assessment Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP, 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 350) 1993 Risk Reduction Rule (30 TAC 335) and Consistency Document Various exposure media/pathways considered Receptor exposure scenarios based on current/future land use (e.g., residential, commercial/industrial, recreator)

13 Remediation Risk Assessment (cont.) TRRP ~ 13 exposure pathways total in multiple media which may be complete/reasonably anticipated to be complete based on land use > Soil incidental ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact for both residential and commercial/industrial; vegetable ingestion for residential > Groundwater ingestion (federal MCLs used) and inhalation > Other incidental ingestion and dermal contact with sediment or surface water, ingestion of fish or fish + drinking water from surface water

14 Remediation Risk Assessment (cont.) DSHS staff frequently contacted to review media concentration data and/or prepare health consultations for attendance of TCEQ public meetings TCEQ defers to DSHS for evaluation of medical records and blood/urine contaminant data

15 Questions??? Joseph Kip Haney (512) Vincent Leopold (512) Toxicology Section Chief Engineer s Office TCEQ