IRIS Process (2009 Update)
Alert
Notice
[05/09] Update: EPA has released an update to the current IRIS Process, these documents are available on the IRIS Process Web page.
Abstract
The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) database that contains information on human health effects that may result from exposure to chemical substances in the environment. IRIS is maintained by EPA’s Office of Research and Development.The IRIS process consists of development of a draft Toxicological Review for the chemical, internal and external scientific reviews of the draft document, EPA responses to review comments, and development and posting on the IRIS web site of an IRIS Summary and final Toxicological Review. EPA is announcing revisions to the IRIS process. Highlights of the new IRIS development process include a streamlined review schedule, ensuring that the majority of assessments are posted on IRIS within two years of the start date. This will result in more human health assessments being available to EPA’s programs and regions and to other users of the IRIS database. While opportunities remain for input from other federal agencies and White House offices, the input will be from health scientists and will focus on scientific and technical comments. Further, all written comments from other federal agencies and White House offices will be made public, which will greatly improve the transparency of the process.
Impact/Purpose
The IRIS process consists of development of a draft Toxicological Review for the chemical, internal and external scientific reviews of the draft document, EPA responses to review comments, and development and posting on the IRIS web site of an IRIS Summary and final Toxicological Review. EPA is announcing revisions to the IRIS process. New steps in the process include increased participation by other federal agencies and the public in the development of the Toxicological Review and opportunities for other federal agencies to conduct research to fill data gaps.Download(s)
- New Process for Development of IRIS Assessments Memo: Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator (PDF) (7 pp, 470.7 KB, about PDF)
- IRIS Process Final (05-20-2009 Update) (PDF) (4 pp, 127.0 KB, about PDF)
- IRIS Process Flow Chart (PDF) (1 pp, 65.4 KB, about PDF)
- IRIS Science News Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 137.7 KB, about PDF)
- Link to the May 21, 2009 Press Release Notice