ChemSTEER Chemical Screening Tool for Exposures

1
ChemSTEERChemical Screening Tool for Exposures
Environmental Releases

• Scott Prothero
• US EPA
• AIHCE
• May 25, 2000

2
What Will You Learn Today?

• Background / Context
• Computer Requirements
• Premises / Methods
• Inputs / Outputs
• Applications
• Status / Availability

3
What does ChemSTEER do?

• In the absence of exposure data
• Estimates potential inhalation, dermal
  exposures to workers
• Estimates potential releases to air, water,
  land
• ... for a chemical in industrial and commercial
  operations.

4
Why Did EPA Develop ChemSTEER?

• Initially developed for use in EPA New Chemicals
  Program risk screening process
• Computerizes established methods and models
• Tool for non-EPA use

5
What Do You Need to Run ChemSTEER?

• Technical info and data on chemical and
  operation(s)
• Understanding of methods
• IBM- compatible computer
• 10 MB storage, 16 MB RAM
• Windows 95 or newer

6
How Do You Use ChemSTEER?

• Choose Operations
• Input Data on Chemical
• Input Site Data and Info
• Choose default models and parameters or other
  options

7
What Methods Are in ChemSTEER?

• Vapor Generation Models for filling, open pools
  of liquid
• Box Model for Inhalation
• Dermal models
• Container/ equip. residuals
• Non-ideal behavior
• Established exposure limits
• Industry- specific generic scenarios

Current
Future
8
What Are Some Example Inputs?

• Volume Handled or Produced
• Operation Types (Uses)
• Molecular Weight, Vapor Pressure
• Weight Fractions
• Numbers of Sites, Workers
• Release Sources/Worker Activities
• Ventilation Rates
• Container Volumes

9
What Are Some Example Outputs?

• Exposures
• LADD mg/day inhaled, available for absorption
  through skin
• Releases
• kg/day, kg/year to air, water, land,
  incineration

10
What Are Its Applications?

• Prevent Pollution / Reduce Exposure Risk
• Identify Prioritize Process Problems (esp.
  pre-design)
• Examine Tradeoffs Occupational
  Non-occupational Impacts
• Link to E-FAST Tool for Non-occupational
  Exposures beyond Plant Boundaries

11
What is Its Status Availability?

• Use now for Demos only
• User-defined operations only
• Release Goal Summer 2000
• Add industry-specific operations, methods,
  user manual, user friendliness, peer review in
  2000-01

12
EPA Exposure Homepage www.epa.gov/opptintr/exposu
re

• General info on ChemSTEER and other tools
  related to human and environmental exposures,
  fate, and risks
• Describes the exposure assessment process
• Download available tools