Answer to Question #319 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

Has the Health Physics Society performed any review (or does it plan to perform a review) of the EPA's Risk Assessments for exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides in ground water (drinking water)? These risk assessments have been used to establish proposed maximum contaminant levels for radium and alpha particles, among others. The opinion of outside experts as to the validity of these studies is requested.

A

The EPA's Risk Assessment methodology that underlies the recently promulgated 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; Radionuclides; Notice of Data Availability; Proposed Rule (FR Vol. 65, No. 78 April 21, 2000) is Federal Guidance Report (FGR) No. 13, Cancer Risk Coefficients for Environmental Exposure to Radionuclides. When FGR 13 was issued in draft form for comment, then Health Physics Society (HPS) President Otto Raabe provided comments on the document. The HPS has not performed a review nor taken a formal position on FGR 13 since its final issue in September 1999. The HPS Legislation and Regulation Committee is evaluating the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) and Proposed Rulemaking effort for drinking water standards to see if it will generate comments for the HPS to submit to the EPA. The Committee will be meeting at the HPS Annual Meeting in Denver, 26 - 29 June 2000. The Committee expects to get an update at that time from Michael Boyd, EPA, a member of the Committee, and will make some comments after that meeting.

Keith Dinger, Chair
HPS Scientific and Public Issues Committee