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 [email protected]
Vincent Leopold(512) 239-1784 [email protected]
Toxicology SectionChief Engineer’s Office
TCEQ