Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:5:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 2/7)
Character Range: 1010650–1017549

be based solely on the position of its source in the table. The most important consideration is that the data is supported by sound science and contemporary risk assessment methodologies, and that a weight-of-evidence approach has been used to assess their worth. This means that risk assessors should not simply rely on 'looking up numbers' but should gain an appreciation of the currency of the source and the underlying science from which the numbers have been derived. Such an evaluation should be undertaken by an appropriately qualified toxicologist.

Table 4. Sources of information for toxicity assessment
Reference                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Description
National Health and Medical Research Council documents e.g. Australian drinking water guidelines (ADWGs)                                                                                                                                                          NHMRC documents are a useful source of Australian-specific information. ADWGs in particular should be checked to ensure that Australian circumstances are understood.
National Environmental Protection Council documents e.g. NEPM (Air Toxics), NEPM (Ambient Air Quality) and Air Quality Standard Setting Methodology                                                                                                               As above, provide useful information on Australian circumstances, although for a more limited range of contaminants than the ADWGs. NEPC publications can be accessed at www.scew.gov.au
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The fifth national workshop on the health risk assessment and management of contaminated sites was published by NEPC and is available at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.ephc.gov.au/taxonomy/term/60.
Other Australian Government sources of toxicity criteria                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Australian Government publishes acceptable daily intakes and acute reference doses for agricultural and veterinary chemicals. These can be accessed at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ocs-adi-list.htm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ocs-arfd-list.htm.
South Australia Health                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            South Australia Health published a series of workshops on risk assessment of contaminated land (1st to 4th National Workshops on the health risk assessment and management of contaminated sites, between 1991 and 1996). They can be accessed at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.publications.health.sa.gov.au/envh/.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This website also provides a number of other publications that are useful for risk assessments.
World Health Organization sources, for example, WHO air quality and drinking water quality guidelines, and Environmental Health Criteria series documents.                                                                                                        Australia is a party to the WHO process and has incorporated Australian material into a variety of Environmental Health Criteria documents.
Documents from the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) are included in this group.                                                                                                     Australian drinking water guidelines (ADWGs) use WHO guidance as a primary resource.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Most WHO documents are available on the web at www.inchem.org.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) documents                                                                                                                                                                                                      IARC provides classification for carcinogens.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The IARC classifications should be the primary source for carcinogen classification and should generally be used to determine whether chemicals will be considered as carcinogens for the purposes of the risk assessment.
US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) minimal risk levels and toxicological reviews                                                                                                                                                         ATSDR information is often based on the same sources as the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)