Toxicology Sectionof the

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

TSCC-HHTCEQ Representatives

Joseph “Kip” Haney & Vincent Leopold

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

• The state “EPA”• 16 Regional TCEQ

Offices• HQ in Austin

ToxicologySection

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)

Air Permit

Engineer

Permit Applicant

Criteria & other pollutants: must meet state/federal

standards; screening procedure for air permit referral to

Toxicology Section

Toxicologist

Non-criteria pollutants: use Effects Screening Levels (ESLs)

of Proposed Emissions

Air Permit Air Permit ReviewsReviews

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

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:OdorVegetation effects

• New Guidance document almost complete (Development of ESLs, ReVs, and URFs)

Air MonitoringAir MonitoringEvaluate ambient air toxics concentrations

Air Monitoring (cont.)

• Various analytes(e.g., VOCs, carbonyls, metals)

• Fixed site monitors (~ 82 sites)• Mobile monitoring• Field Ops

> Emergency Response> Homeland Security

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

Annual Averages (ppb)

2.01.6

1.21.6

2.7

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Monitoring Benzene at a Corpus Christi site

TCEQ Benzene Air Monitoring3810 Huisache Street, Corpus ChristiAIRS No. 483550032

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

Sep-

97

Nov

-97

Jan-

98

Mar

-98

May

-98

Jul-9

8

Sep-

98

Nov

-98

Jan-

99

Mar

-99

May

-99

Jul-9

9

Sep-

99

Nov

-99

Jan-

00

Mar

-00

May

-00

Jul-0

0

Sep-

00

Nov

-00

Jan-

01

Mar

-01

May

-01

Jul-0

1

Sep-

01

Nov

-01

Jan-

02

Mar

-02

May

-02

Jul-0

2

Sep-

02

Nov

-02

Jan-

03

Mar

-03

May

-03

Jul-0

3

24-Hour Sample Date

Ben

zene

Con

cent

ratio

n(p

arts

per

bill

ion

by v

olum

e)

24-hour Screening Level

Benzene Concentration in Air(parts per billion, ppb)

Short-Term Exposure Long-Term Exposure(less than 14 days) (months to years)

100,000,000

10,000,000

1,000,000

100,000

10,000

1,000

100

10

1

0.1

DrowzinessDizziness

Headache

LeukemiaEye Irritation

EPA Acceptable Cancer Risk

TCEQ long-term Screening Level

TCEQ short-term Screening Level

OSHA 15-minute StandardOSHA 8-hour Standard

OSHA Action Level

BenzeneHealth Effects

andRegulatory

LevelsDeath

Monitored long-term Benzene Levels, TCEQ Corpus Christi Sites

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

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)

Remediation Risk Assessment (cont.)

• TRRP ~ 13 exposure pathways total in multiple media which may be complete/reasonably anticipated to be complete based on landuse

> 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

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

Questions ???

Joseph “Kip” Haney(512) 239-5691 jhaney@tceq.state.tx.us

Vincent Leopold(512) 239-1784 vleopold@tceq.state.tx.us

Toxicology SectionChief Engineer’s Office

TCEQ