Cerium Oxide and Cerium Compounds

Overview

EPA conducted a peer review of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of cerium oxide and cerium compounds that will appear on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database.

Background

The draft Toxicological Review of cerium oxide and cerium compounds provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to cerium oxide and cerium compounds. Cerium oxide is a polishing agent for glass mirrors, plate glass, television tubes, ophthalmic lenses, and precision optics, and is also used in emission control systems in gasoline engines and as a diesel fuel-born catalyst to reduce particulate matter emissions. Cerium is most heavily used in the form of mischmetal, a commercial mixture of metallic light lanthanides, for metallurgical purposes.

This assessment contains the derivation of a chronic reference concentration and a cancer characterization.

History/Chronology

Date	Description
2005	EPA began reviewing the Tox Assessment of cerium oxide and cerium compounds.
May 2007	EPA announces the external peer review panel meeting in a May 6, 2007 Federal Register Notice.
May 2008	EPA releases the draft document for an external peer review.
Sep 2009	EPA released the Final Toxicological Review (PDF) (118 pp, 703K) and accompanying Summary for Cerium Oxides to the IRIS Web site.

Status

Following External Peer Review, the final assessment is scheduled to be posted to the IRIS database.

Additional Information

Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the key word EPA- HQ-ORD-2008-0111 (for the docket ID).

• Toxicological Review of Cerium Oxide (External Review Draft) (PDF)  (88  pp, 449.2 KB, about PDF)
• Charge to External Peer Reviewers (PDF)  (3  pp, 20.5 KB, about PDF)
• Listening Session Announcement
• Consolidated Comments from the External Peer Review (Final) (PDF)  (42  pp, 319.3 KB, about PDF)

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Document Related Link(s)

• External Peer Review of Bio-Research Labs (1994) Final Report (PDF)  (23  pp, 171.9 KB, about PDF)
• Prinicipal Study: Bio-Research Labs 1994 (PDF)  (1360  pp, 24.1 MB, about PDF)

Federal Register Notices

• FR Notice: Jun 3, 2008
• FR Notice: May 6, 2008