Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Environmental Topics
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Report a Violation
  • About EPA
Risk Assessment
Contact Us

Provisional Guidance for Quantitative Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)

On this page:

  • Overview
  • Downloads

Alert
Alert Notice - This site contains archived material(s)

Archive disclaimer
Archived files are provided for reference purposes only. The file was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Persons with disabilities having difficulty accessing archived files may contact the Risk Webmaster for assistance. Please use the contact us form if you need additional support.

Abstract

The document represents a brief, quantitatively oriented scientific summary of health effects data. It was developed by the Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office for the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response to provide interim guidance for the quantitative risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). For a more complete discussion of potential hazards from PAH exposure, the reader is referred to the 1992 Drinking Water Criteria Document for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). A literature search was not done in support of this short guidance document.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are products of incomplete combustion of organic materials; sources are, thus, widespread,including cigarette smoke, municipal waste incineration, wood stove emissions, coal conversion, energy production form fossil fuels, and automobile and diesel exhaust. As PAHs are common environmental contaminants, it is important that EPA have a scientifically justified, consistent approach to the evaluation of human health risk from exposure to these compounds.

For the majority of PAHs classified as B2, probable human carcinogens, data are insufficient for calculation of an inhalation or drinking water unit risk. Benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) is the most completely studied of the PAHS, and data, while problematic, are sufficient for calculation of quantitative estimates of carcinogenic potency. Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEF) have been used by U.S. EPA on an interim basis for risk assessment of chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. Data for PAHs do not meet all criteria for use of TEF. This document presents a somewhat different approach to quantitative estimation for PAHs using weighted potential potencies. These estimates are recommended only for evaluation of risk from oral exposure and are proposed only for the assessment of potential carcinogenicity of PAHS.

Impact/Purpose

This document was developed by ORD/NCEA for OSWER to provide interim guidance for the quantitative risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Citation

U.S. EPA. Provisional Guidance for Quantitative Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-93/089 (NTIS PB94116571).

Download(s)

This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

  • PROVISIONAL GUIDANCE FOR QUANTITATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (1993) (PDF)  (28  pp, 1.0 MB, about PDF)

Related Link(s)

  • Development of a Relative Potency Factor (Rpf) Approach for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Mixtures (External Review Draft, Suspended)
  • Drinking Water Criteria Document for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) (Final Draft, 1985)
  • Risk Assessment Home
  • About Risk Assessment
  • Risk Recent Additions
  • Human Health Risk Assessment
  • Ecological Risk Assessment
  • Risk Advanced Search
    • Risk Publications
  • Risk Assessment Guidance
  • Risk Tools and Databases
  • Superfund Risk Assessment
  • Where you live
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 01, 2019
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshots
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.