IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (Noncancer) (Interagency Science Discussion Draft)

Notice - This site contains archived material(s)

Archive disclaimer
Archive disclaimer
Archived files are provided for reference purposes only. These files are no longer maintained by the Agency and may be outdated. For current EPA information, go to www.epa.gov. It is EPA's policy to support reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791. If you need assistance with accessing archived files, contact EPA's Reasonable Accommodations or submit a request using the Contact Us form.


Abstract

On May 3, 2013, the Toxicological Review of Methanol (noncancer) (Revised External Review Draft) was posted for public review and comment. Subsequently, the draft Toxicological Review, Appendices, and draft IRIS Summary were reviewed internally by EPA and by other federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President prior to final posting of the assessment on the IRIS database. Based on the 2009 IRIS assessment development process, all written comments on IRIS assessments submitted by other federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President will be made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments with EPA's response and the interagency science discussion draft of the IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (noncancer) and the draft IRIS Summary are posted on this site.

Methanol is a high production volume chemical with many commercial uses. It is a basic building block for numerous chemicals. Many of its derivatives are used in the construction, housing or automotive industries. Consumer products that contain methanol include varnishes, shellacs, paints, windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, adhesives, and deicers. This draft IRIS health assessment addresses non-cancer human health effects that may result from chronic exposure to this chemical. This draft assessment provides an inhalation reference concentration (RfC) for chronic non-cancer health effects and a reassessment of the oral reference dose (RfD).

Impact/Purpose

EPA is conducting a peer review of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of methanol (non-cancer) that will appear in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.

Status

This assessment has been loaded into the IRIS Website and Database.

Citation

U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (Noncancer) (Interagency Science Discussion Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-11/001Da-b, 2013.

History/Chronology

Date Description
01-Sep 1988EPA posted the assessment of an oral reference dose for methanol on the IRIS Database.
02-Jul 1993EPA revised the oral reference dose for methanol.
04-Dec 2009EPA hosted an interagency science consultation on the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol for cancer and non-cancer health effects.
05-Jan 2010EPA released the IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (External Review Draft) on cancer and non-cancer health effects for public review and comment, and announced the public listening session would be held on February 23, 2010. [Federal Register Jan 12, 2010]
06-Jun 2010Following a report from the National Toxicology Program, EPA placed on hold the draft Methanol Toxicological Review on cancer and non-cancer health effects. [See June 15, 2010 SAB press release]
08-Apr 2011EPA released the external review draft of the IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (Non-Cancer) for public review and comment. EPA also announced a public listening session to be held on May 26, 2011 in Arlington, VA. [Federal Register Apr 18, 2011]
09-Jun 2011EPA released a federal register notice announcing an addendum to the draft document, a 14-day public comment period for the addendum, and the details for an upcoming public workshop. [Federal Register Jun 22, 2011]
10-Oct 2011EPA released the peer review comments.
11-Mar 2012EPA announced that data from the Ramazzini Institute (Ramazzini update) on lymphomas and leukemias would not be used in IRIS assessments. This decision impacted the cancer assessment contained in the December 2009 draft methanol assessment, which was released in January 2010 for external peer review. The December 2009 draft assessment has been archived.
12-May 2013EPA released a revised draft toxicological review and appendices for public viewing and comment. [Federal Register Notice: May 03, 2013]
13-Jun 2013EPA hosted a public meeting and webinar to allow the public in on a discussion by the peer review panel members about their initial comments on the Revised External Review Draft Toxicological Review of Methanol (noncancer). The public was also invited to provide comments.
14-Jul 2013EPA released the comments from the letter peer review on the Revised External Review Draft assessment.
15-Jul 2013EPA initiated the final agency and interagency science discussion on the draft Toxicological Review of Methanol (noncancer) and draft IRIS Summary.
16-Sep 2013EPA released the final IRIS Toxicological Review of Methanol (noncancer) and IRIS Summary for Methanol (noncancer) along with the interagency science discussion draft, interagency comments, and EPA's response to interagency comments.