IRIS Information on Hexavalent Chromium Health Effects

EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) is where the detailed health effects background is developed to support EPA’s regulatory actions on chemicals, including drinking water MCLs.  Right now the IRIS program is considering a number of health impact questions related to hexavalent chromium.  These cover issues like evaluating epidemiology studies, dose response modeling, mechanistic studies, mutagenicity and genotoxicity.  In most cases this is far more detailed and specialized information than most drinking water program staff need. However, if there are toxicologists or health professionals in your agency or sister agencies, that need additional background on hexavalent chromium health effects, the IRIS work can be very informative.  Visit the IRIS webpage to see the information that supported the discussions that were held this week.  Additional information will be available as EPA’s work progresses.