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Health-based Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) for homeland security
Femi Adeshina1, Cynthia Sonich-Mullin, Robert H Ross
1National Homeland Security Research Center, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Adeshina.Femi@epamail.epa.gov
Inhalation Toxicology
|October 10, 2009
Summary
The US EPA developed Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) to guide emergency chemical exposure decisions. These health-based levels aid risk managers in critical situations, ensuring public safety during domestic emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Homeland Security Presidential Directive #8 (HSPD-8) mandates national preparedness for domestic threats.
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) is developing health-based Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs).
- PALs address priority chemicals, including chemical warfare agents, pesticides, and toxic industrial chemicals, for air and drinking water.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish temporary, health-based Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) for priority chemicals.
- To provide advisory exposure levels for emergency planning and response decision-making.
- To support risk management decisions for evacuation, re-entry, and infrastructure use.
Main Methods:
- Developing three exposure levels (PAL 1, PAL 2, PAL 3) based on toxic effect severity.
- Establishing exposure durations of 24-hour, 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year.
- Evaluating PAL derivations through a US EPA working group and an external multidisciplinary panel.
Main Results:
- Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) were developed for specific chemicals.
- Methodology for deriving PALs is detailed.
- Technical support documents for PAL derivation are presented.
Conclusions:
- PALs serve as temporary guidance for risk managers during emergencies.
- The PAL program supports informed decision-making for public health and safety.
- This research provides crucial data for national domestic all-hazards preparedness.
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