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Evaluation of the NESHAP radiological risk assessment
1Air Quality Group (ESH-17), MS J987, Los Alamos National Laboratory NM 87545, USA.
Health Physics
|September 1, 1996
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can enhance its hazardous air pollutant risk assessments by adopting models from leading radiation effects committees. This comparison highlights opportunities for improved environmental risk analysis and regulatory standards.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Risk Assessment
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed risk assessments to inform National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
- Accurate risk assessment is crucial for setting effective environmental regulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the EPA's risk assessment methodology with those of other prominent international bodies.
- To identify potential improvements for the EPA's risk assessment models.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of risk assessment parameters.
- Evaluation of models from the Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations (BEIR V), the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the parameters used by the EPA compared to BEIR V, UNSCEAR, and ICRP.
- The study identified specific areas where the EPA's assessment could be enhanced.
Conclusions:
- The EPA's risk assessment for hazardous air pollutants could be improved by incorporating methodologies from BEIR V, UNSCEAR, or ICRP.
- Adopting elements from these established international models may lead to more robust and accurate environmental risk evaluations.