Peer Consultation Meetings on Octabromodiphenyl Ether and Pentabromodiphenyl
Ether
An expert peer consultation panel will meet at the University of Cincinnati
(Ohio) June 3-5, 2003 to discuss potential children¹s health risks from
exposure to two Brominated flame retardants: pentabromodiphenyl ether and
octabromodiphenyl ether. The panel will review health risk assessment
documents submitted by Great Lakes Chemical Company that discuss whether
additional scientific data are needed to characterize potential health risks
to children. Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), a
non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, is convening this peer consultation
under the Voluntary Children¹s Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). This
meeting is open to the public and more information about the meeting,
including registration, logistics, assessment documents, and panel charge is
be available on TERA¹s website at
http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/OctaPenta/OctaPentaWelcome.htm
<http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/OctaPenta/OctaPentaWelcome.htm> .
Octabromodiphenyl Ether and Pentabromodiphenyl Ether Peer Consultation Panel
Fourteen panel members comprise the VCCEP Peer Consultation Panel for
Octabromodiphenyl Ether and Pentabromodiphenyl Ether. More information about
the panel is available at
http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/OctaPenta/OctaPentaPanel.htm
<http://www.tera.org/peer/VCCEP/OctaPenta/OctaPentaPanel.htm> .
Background
The VCCEP program is a voluntary pilot program and part of the Environmental
Protection Agency¹s (EPA) Chemical Right-to-Know Initiative
<http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemrtk/index.htm> . The goal of the VCCEP program
is to enable the public to better understand the potential health risks to
children associated with certain chemical exposures. EPA has asked
companies that manufacture and/or import 23 chemicals (which have been found
in human tissues and the environment in various monitoring programs) to
volunteer for a pilot program and sponsor Tier 1 chemical evaluations.
Sponsorship requires the companies to collect or develop health effects and
exposure information on their chemical(s) and then to integrate that
information in a risk assessment and a ³data needs² assessment. The
assessments developed by the sponsors will be discussed by panels of
scientific experts using a peer consultation process. Panel members will
make recommendations regarding toxicity and exposure data needs in the
context of children¹s risk and this program. Experts have experience in
toxicity testing, exposure evaluation, and risk assessment.
TERA is responsible for convening and chairing panel meetings to evaluate
the sponsors¹ submissions. In June of 2002, TERA independently selected a
Core Panel of nine scientific experts to participate in the 2003 VCCEP Peer
Consultation meetings. This selection was based on 50 nominations from
stakeholder groups and the public. Prior to each meeting, TERA announces
the nomination period for additional ad hoc panel members and then makes its
selection considering the nominations. TERA also prepares a report for each
meeting and makes this report available to the public. These peer
consultation meetings are open to the public. More information about the
VCCEP is available in the December 26, 2000, Federal Register (65 FR 81700)
<http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemrtk/ts00274d.htm> and on EPA¹s VCCEP
<http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep/index.htm> website; and information about
the Peer Consultation aspect of VCCEP can be found on TERA¹s website at
www.tera.org/peer/vccep <http://www.tera.org/peer/vccep> .
Jacqueline Patterson, M.En.
Peer Consultation and Review Program Manager
Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA)
1757 Chase Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45223
USA
phone 513-521-7426
fax 513-542-7487
email patterson at tera.org
www.tera.org
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