Carbon tetrachloride

Overview

EPA conducted a peer review of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of carbon tetrachloride that will appear on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Peer review is meant to ensure that science is used credibly and appropriately in derivation of the dose-response assessments and toxicological characterization.

Background

Carbon tetrachloride has been used as a dry-cleaning agent, fabric-spotting fluid, solvent, reagent in chemical synthesis, fire extinguisher fluid, and grain fumigant, but its primary use was in chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production. Production of this chemical peaked in the early 1970s; annual production has generally declined since the mid-1970s. The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of carbon tetrachloride in consumer products in the 1970s. Decline in the use of carbon tetrachloride also accompanied EPA’s increased regulation of the use of CFCs in propellants, and the Montreal Protocol, which was implemented in the U.S. via Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and that called for a ban (with certain exemptions) on production and import of carbon tetrachloride.

History/Chronology

Date	Description
1987	EPA posts the Carbon Tetrachloride IRIS assessment on the IRIS database (RfD and cancer assessment).
May 2008	EPA released the external review draft for public comment. [Federal Register Notice May 21, 2008]
Jun 2008	EPA announces the public listening session. [Federal Register Jun 24, 2008 ]
Sep 2008	EPA EPA announced the external peer review meeting to be held on October 14, 2008. [Federal Register Sep 9, 2008]
Nov 2008	EPA released the comments from the public comment period and external review meeting.
Nov 2009	EPA hosted an interagency science discussion on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of Carbon Tetrachloride.
Mar 2010	EPA released the Toxicological Review and IRIS Summary for Carbon Tetrachloride and the interagency review draft with interagency review comments.

Status

Following the External Peer Review, the final assessment will be published on the IRIS database.

Additional Information

Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov website. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the keyword EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0058 (for the docket ID) to comment on this report.

• IRIS Toxicological Review of Carbon Tetrachloride (External Review Draft) (PDF)  (404  pp, 5.4 MB, about PDF)
• Charge to External Peer Reviewers (PDF)  (6  pp, 32.2 KB, about PDF)
• Consolidated Comments from the External Peer Review (Final) (PDF)  (141  pp, 815.4 KB, about PDF)

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Document Related Link(s)

• IRIS Toxicological Review for Carbon Tetrachloride (Interagency Science Discussion Draft)
• IRIS Toxicological Review of Carbon Tetrachloride (Final Report)

Federal Register Notices

• FR Notice: Sep 9, 2008
• FR Notice: Jun 24, 2008
• FR Notice: May 21, 2008