07/26/10 - The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announced on July 9th the availability of draft technical support documents for proposed Public Health Goals (PHGs) for methoxychlor and selenium in drinking water. The draft document for methoxychlor is an update of the risk assessment for the PHG published in 1999. OEHHA proposes to decrease the PHG for methoxychlor to 0.09 parts per billion (ppb) from the current value of 30 ppb, based on new data on adverse effects of methoxychlor in animal studies. The document for selenium represents a new proposed PHG of 30 ppb, based on data from adverse effects of selenium in a human population.

The draft documents are posted on the OEHHA web site. OEHHA is soliciting comments on the draft reports during a 30-day comment period. The Office previously offered a 45-day public comment period and held a public workshop for selenium on May 19, 2010, and for methoxychlor on June 3, 2010.

This 30-day public comment period is the second and final request for public input. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2010 by emailing Michael Baes at mbaes@oehha.ca.gov to be considered during this document revision period. [Source: OEHHA]