What Are The Air Districts Risk Assessment Procedures?
As part of its program to control toxic air contaminant emissions, the Air District has established procedures for estimating the risk associated with exposure. These risk assessment procedures are based on methods used throughout government, research facilities, and industry. The methods used are conservative, meaning that the real risks from the source may be lower than the calculations, but it is unlikely they will be higher. In the first step of a two-step process, the Air District estimates how much of a contaminant would be found in the air at a specific location. The estimate depends upon the type of source (refinery, dry cleaner, incinerator, etc.), its rate of production and its location. The second step involves determining if the estimated amount of contaminant is hazardous to those exposed to it. This determination includes an evaluation of both carcinogenicity (tendency to cause cancer) and non-cancer health effects. Chemical toxicity is based on the results of animal stud
