The development of acute exposure guideline levels for hazardous substances

Abstract

The primary purpose of the National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Substances (NAC/AEGL) is to develop guideline levels for short‐term exposures to airborne concentrations for approximately 400 to 500 high priority, acutely hazardous substances within the next ten years. These Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are needed for a wide range of planning, response, and prevention applications. The NAC/AEGL Committee seeks to develop the most scientifically credible, acute (short‐term) exposure guideline levels possible within the constraints of data availability, resources and time. This includes a comprehensive effort in data gathering, data evaluation and data summarization; fostering the participation of a large cross‐section of the relevant scientific community; and the adoption of procedures and methods that facilitate consensus‐building for AEGL values within the Committee. The NAC/AEGL Committee is currently comprised of representatives of federal, state and local agencies, private industry and other organizations in the private sector that will derive programmatic or operational benefits from the existence of the AEGL values. AEGL values are determined for three different health effect end‐points. These values are intended for the general public where they are applicable to emergency (accidental) situations. Threshold exposure values are developed for a minimum of 4 exposure periods (30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours). In certain instances, AEGL values for a 10‐minute exposure period also will be developed. Each threshold value is distinguished by varying degrees of severity of toxic effects, as initially conceived by the AIHA ERP Committee, subsequently defined in the NAS' National Research Council Report, Guidelines for Developing Community Emergency Exposure Levels for Hazardous Substances, published by the National Academy of Sciences in 1993, and further refined by the NAC/AEGL Committee. To date, the committee has reviewed over 80 chemicals.

Environmental and health risks of chlorine trifluoride (ClF3), an alternative to potent greenhouse gases in the semiconductor industry

“…In 1980s, the US EPA commissioned the National Research Council to develop a community exposure guidance levels (i.e., AEGLs) for short-term exposures to airborne concentrations of acutely toxic, high priority chemicals [27]. Therefore, AEGLs represent threshold exposure limits for the general public and are applicable to emergency exposure periods ranging from 10 min to 8 h. The three AEGLs have been defined as follows:…”

Mustard Gas or Sulfur Mustard: An Old Chemical Agent as a New Terrorist Threat

“…23 The AEGL guidelines are useful in acute emergency situations because the three zones of health effect endpoints are devised in a time-dependent manner applicable for the duration of 10 minutes to 8 hours post-exposure. 28 The AEGLs in conjunction with site-specific knowledge and known population characteristics within each delineated zone, allows disaster planners to estimate toxic effects for victims and responders. 20 These new guidelines with incorporated CWA-AEGL values provide a useful estimate of the geographic area of highest risks in relation to exposure time.…”

Risk Assessment Simulation System of Cargo Leakage Accident in LPG Carrier Based on VB

“…When the vapor concentration is greater than 1,000 3 / m mg the staff will be injure mildly; when the vapor concentration is greater than 17,990 3 / m mg , the staff will be moderate hurt (dizziness, headache, excitement or drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, pulse slow, anesthesia, memory loss) [1] . On the other hand, when a regional concentration in the vapor cloud is between the upper and lower limits, fire and explosion will happen when heat and fire occur, causing more significant damage to the staff in and around the facilities.…”