IRIS Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Interagency Science Discussion Draft)

Abstract

EPA is releasing the draft report, Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran, that was distributed to Federal agencies and White House Offices for comment during the Science Discussion step of the IRIS Assessment Development Process. Comments received from other Federal agencies and White House Offices are provided below with external peer review panel comments.
The draft Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard identification and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to tetrahydrofuran. Tetrahydrofuran, or THF, is used as a solvent for polyvinyl chlorides, vinylidene chloride polymers, natural and synthetic resins (particularly vinyls), in topcoating solutions, polymer coatings, cellophane, protective coatings, adhesives, magnetic strips and printing inks. It is also used for Grignard and metal hydride reactions. THF is used as an intermediate in chemical synthesis. For example, it is used in the preparation of chemicals including adipic acid, butadiene, acrylic acid, butylrolactone, succinic acid, 1,4-butanediol diacetate, motor fuels, vitamins, hormones, pharmaceuticals, synthetic perfumes, organometallic compounds, and insecticides. It is also used in the manufacture of polytetramethylene ether glycol, polyurethane elastomers, and elastic polymers. THF can be used in the fabrication of materials for food packaging, transport, and storage.

Impact/Purpose

EPA is undertaking an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health assessment for tetrahydrofuran. 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

This assessment has been loaded into the IRIS Web site and Database.

Citation

U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Interagency Science Discussion Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-11/006D, 2011.

Date	Description
01- Aug 2007	EPA released the first external review draft for public review and comment. EPA announced the external peer review meeting to be held on November 1, 2007. [Federal Register Aug 20, 2007]
02- Sep 2011	EPA hosted an interagency science discussion on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of THF.
03- Feb 2012	EPA released the final toxicological review and IRIS Summary for Tetrahydrofuran, along with the inter-agency science discussion draft, inter-agency comments, and EPA's response to major inter-agency comments.

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 Tetrahydrofuran (Interagency Science Discussion Draft) (PDF)  (193  pp, 1.1 MB, about PDF)
• IRIS Summary for Tetrahydrofuran (Interagency Science Discussion Draft) (PDF)  (20  pp, 152.3 KB, about PDF)
• EPA's Response & Interagency Science Discussion Comments (PDF)  (6  pp, 196.3 KB, about PDF)
• 1. CDC ATSDR THF IASD Comments (PDF)  (1  pp, 21.5 KB, about PDF)
• 2. OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs THF IASD Comments (PDF)  (5  pp, 206.1 KB, about PDF)
• 3. NIEHS National Toxicology Program THF IASD Comments (PDF)  (1  pp, 31.2 KB, about PDF)

Related Link(s)

• IRIS Toxicological Review of Tetrahydrofuran (THF) (External Review Draft)