Estimating specific acute exposure guideline levels for emergency response at the scene of chemical accidents: A case study of acrylic acid

Abstract

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are reference values for disaster management during scenarios involving chemical accidents. We attempted to specify the present AEGLs of acrylic acid that are provided with only five intervals (10, 30 min, 1, 4, and 8 h) as a brief case study. The AEGL-1, 2, 3 values for acrylic acid were estimated at 96 intervals (5 min–8 h) in detail using the revised Haber's formula (k = Cn × t) and applying a regression model. The AEGL-1 value was constant for the entire exposure duration of 1.5 ppm since it caused only slight irritation without irreversible health effects. The AEGL-2 value was obtained with fixed values (n = 1.8, uncertainty factor of 3, and each 5 min interval), with that for the initial 5 min being derived as 183 ppm, which decreased to 43 ppm after 8 h of exposure. The AEGL-3 values fluctuated because of the risk to human health. The AEGL-3 for the initial 5 min exposure was derived as 696 ppm, which decreased to 58 ppm after 8 h exposure applied to the regression model. Specific AEGL values for acrylic acid were derived using toxicity data and the revised Haber's formula. By applying the methodology described in this study, the reference values for chemical substances that have no AEGL values can be calculated to potentially enhance emergency response in the event of chemical accidents.