&epa Dioxin Reassessment an Sab Review of the Office of Research and Development's Reassessment of Dioxin

The SAB Dioxin Reassessment Review Subcommittee (DRRS) (of the SAB Executive Committee) met on November 1 and 2, 2000 to review revised sections of the EPA draft document Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds (in addition, the DRRS met via public teleconference on January 23 and on April 23, 200 I, to discuss several issues that needed further resolution). The DRRS concluded that EPA Staff provided a careful, thorough review of the voluminous literature and it commended EPA for their efforts. The report addresses each of the specific charge questions, provides suggestions for fmal revisions to the reassessment document, and points out uncertainties that limit EPA's ability to communicate the magnitude of the health risks associated with dioxin and related compounds. The Subcommittee believes that additional research is unlikely to bridge many of the important data gaps in the foreseeable future, and recommends that the Agency proceed expeditiously to complete and release its Risk Assessment, taking appropriate note of the findings and recommendations of this DRRS report and other public comments. Consistent with basic environmental policy, and recognizing the very long biological and environmental persistence of dioxins, the Subcommittee believes that it is important that EPA continue to try to limit emissions (and human exposure) to this class of chemicals. It is also critical for EPA to closely examine current data and modeling gaps, and to develop a research plan to remedy them.