What is the process for updating inhalation health benchmarks and AERA guidance?
The MPCA has a hierarchy of chemical and toxicological databases that it uses complete risk assessment calculations. As toxicity values are updated in the separate databases based on new scientific information, the MPCA updates its own list of chemical information. This is done primarily with input from the Minnesota Department of Health. The chemical values used are known as Inhalation Health Benchmarks (IHBs). The IHBs can be found in the Risk Assessment Screening Spreadsheet (RASS), as well as the chemical updates as they occur. All chemical updates are put on the AERA home page under the “What’s New” section. More detailed information on the updates can be found in the AERA chemical information Web page.
