IRIS Toxicological Review of Ammonia (External Review Draft)
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Abstract
EPA is conducting a peer review of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of ammonia that will appear in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.About 80% of commercially produced ammonia is used in agricultural fertilizers. Ammonia is also used as a corrosion inhibitor, in water purification, as a household cleaner, as an antimicrobial agent in food products, as a refrigerant, as a stabilizer in the rubber industry, as a source of hydrogen in the hydrogenation of fats and oils, and as a chemical intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, explosives, and other chemicals. Ammonia is also used to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from combustion sources such as industrial and municipal boilers, power generators, and diesel engines. Ammonia is a component of the global nitrogen cycle and is essential to many biologic processes.
Impact/Purpose
EPA is undertaking an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health assessment for ammonia. IRIS is an EPA database containing Agency scientific positions on potential adverse human health effects that may result from chronic (or lifetime) exposure to chemicals in the environment. IRIS contains chemical-specific summaries of qualitative and quantitative health information in support of two steps of the risk assessment paradigm, i.e., hazard identification and dose-response evaluation. IRIS assessments are used in combination with specific situational exposure assessment information to evaluate potential public health risk associated with environmental contaminants.Status
Following external peer review and public comment, the assessment will be revised taking into consideration the comments received. It will then undergo a final internal review by EPA and other federal agencies and White House offices. After completing the review it will be posted to the IRIS database.Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Ammonia (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-11/013A, 2012.History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01- May 1991 | The RfC for ammonia was posted to the IRIS database. |
| 07- Mar 2012 | EPA hosted an interagency science consultation meeting on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of Ammonia. |
| 08- Jun 2012 | EPA released the external review draft of the ammonia assessment for public review and comment. [Federal Register Notice Jun 8, 2012] |
Download(s)
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Ammonia (External Review Draft) (PDF) (83 pp, 1.4 MB, about PDF)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Ammonia, Supplemental Information (External Review Draft) (PDF) (87 pp, 1.3 MB, about PDF)
- NCEA Proposed Draft Charge to the External Peer Review (PDF) (3 pp, 115.2 KB, about PDF)