This page represents the most commonly approached topics from our users.

What internet browser works best for the RAIS?

We attempt to accommodate every browser. If there is a problem viewing the RAIS pages or downloading items, let us know what browser you are using and we will try and fix the problem.

How can I use the information on the RAIS?

The information on the RAIS can be used for teaching material and performing risk assessments that comply with EPA guidance. Feel free to use the information; it is available to the public. However, please give proper credit to the RAIS and the team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The University of Tennessee where you see fit. Also, the databases we maintain are updated on a quarterly basis or sooner, so you may need to "time-stamp" any information you download.

Is there a version of the RAIS I can download to my laptop?

No, the RAIS databases are solely an internet service. If you wish to have a stand alone software package for your laptop or desktop PC that performs many tasks similar to the RAIS, please download SADA (Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance). This software was developed with the same databases and equations used by the RAIS. Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA) is free software that incorporates tools from environmental assessment fields into an effective problem solving environment. These tools include integrated modules for visualization, geospatial analysis, statistical analysis, human health risk assessment, cost-effective analysis, sampling design, and decision analysis.

How are the toxicity values and other parameters maintained?

The toxicity values are reviewed monthly and manually updated when IRIS and HEAST release new values. The What's New link will tell you when a value has been updated. Besides toxicity values, we also maintain Regulatory ARARS and other chemical-specific parameters in a similar way.

How can I get further training on the RAIS and risk assessment?

The RAIS Team has developed one to five day risk assessment courses that use the RAIS. We can modify these courses to meet any clients needs. Contact an RAIS representative. Please remember the RAIS already has 3 online training platforms 1) What is risk assessment? 2) tutorial, and 3) risk assessment overview diagram.

Where else can I go for toxicity studies (values) not on the RAIS?

A website similar to the RAIS is the ITER database at http://www.tera.org/ITER. ITER is the International Toxicity Estimates for Risk. It is managed by TERA (Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment) Please direct any e-mail questions to Andrea at Wullenweber@tera.org. TOXNET is a cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas hosted by the National Library of Medicine. Websites of other governmental agencies are also useful. Call the U.S. EPA Superfund Health Risk Technical Support Center at (513) 569-7300 and ask for toxicity values. Call the ATSDR Information Center toll-free at 1-888-422-8737 for toxicity values and profiles. Also try NIOSH, WHO, OSHA for exposure standards. For information on nerve agents contact DENIX.

Also try the IRIS hotline at:
IRIS Hotline
c/o EPA Docket Center, Mail Code 28221T
EPA-West Building
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 566-1676
Fax: (202) 566-1749

Also try ADME/Tox WEB at http://www.ap-algorithms.com/admetox_web.htm
ADME/Tox data and predictions are based on animal and human clinical studies. Health effects for different organ systems, Mouse and Rat LD50, Ames test, Oral Bioavailability, Solubility and pKa are available.

Where can I get more info on ecological risk assessment?

Please go to the RAIS ecological benchmark page. Here you will find a link to many ecological screening benchmarks and a link to ORNL Environmental Science Division website. This website should be helpful in providing information about water, soil and air exposures to many ecological endpoints.

Does the RAIS provide specific information regarding risk to children?

The easy answer is, "yes it does." The real answer is , "yes and no". "Yes," in the sense that the exposure to the child is considered in the equations for a total lifetime of exposure; as well as separately considering the child's exposure for soil and milk ingestion. The "no" part of the answer relates to the fact that there are few environmental studies on child acute exposures and the RAIS reflects the current state of knowledge and does not present a standardized approach for acute child risk assessment for any/all chemicals. Some individual chemicals, e.g. lead, pesticides (indoor use), or radionuclides, will have specific approaches to assess child risks. If you wish to further investigate, there are several diverse regulations on child risk assessment (EPA, FQPA, CPSC, etc.).

What do GIABS, TEF and ABS stand for and where do the values come from?

GIABS stands for GastroIntestinal Absorption Factor. The GIABS value is used to convert oral slope factors (administered dose) to dermal slope factors (administered dose) by factoring out the percentage eliminated in bodily waste. TEF stands for Toxicity Equivalence Factor. The TEF is used to convert the total amount of toxic dioxin and furan congeners present at a site as toxic equivalents (TEQ) of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) present. TEFs are also used for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to give a relative potency of each compound relative to that of benzo(a)pyrene. ABS stands for ABSorption Factor. ABS values are used in estimating the various chemical uptake efficiencies associated with dermal exposure to contaminated soils (this includes the soil matrix effect). Our TEF and ABS values come from U.S. EPA Region IV human health updates.

GIABS default values are given in Region IV as well as RAGS PartE Exhibit 4.1 and chemical-specific values are given in ATSDR profiles and journal reports. Although RAGS PartE provides new guidance on GIABS use, the RAIS won't be changing our 800+ GIABS values to match the 26 RAGS PartE values because the dosing regimens in their references include media such as squalene, corn oil and acute inhalation of Hg vapor that are not representative of natural media. Also RAGS PartE provides multiple values for some analytes. Further, the consistent GIABS source of ATSDR toxicity profiles in the RAIS provides a better standardized resource. The RAIS also isn't following the RAGS PartE <50% oral adjustment rule as we have far more specific references and a generalization isn't necessary. Where we don't have specific GIABS references we use EPA Region IV guidance (80% VOC, 50% SVOC and 20% inorganics). Other classes are 31% for PaHs and 90% for aroclors/PCBs. Feel free to contact Fred Dolislager with any comments or discussion.

Where can I find out about the sources for Chemical-Specific Factors?

Our main source for these factors is EPI Suite. These programs help retrieve various chemical-specific parameters such as BP, MP, VP, H, S, log p, Koc, BCF, MW and K_p. WATER8 and CHEMDAT8 database programs are no longer maintained by EPA.The RAIS may still contain some information from WATER8. CHEM9 is a compound properties processor that is based upon an EPA compound database of over 1000 compounds. Here is the web address for WATER 9 which replaced CHEM 9. It provides the capability to estimate compound properties that are not available in the database, including the compound volatility and the theoretical recovery (fraction measured (Fm)) for EPA test methods 25D and 305.

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