Reference Concentration

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-023500",
  "term": "Reference Concentration",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a NOAEL, LOAEL, or benchmark concentration, with uncertainty factors generally applied to reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in EPA's noncancer health assessments. [Durations include acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic and are defined individually in this glossary].\n\n2. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a NOAEL, LOAEL, or benchmark concentration, with uncertainty factors generally applied to reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in EPA's noncancer health assessments.\n\n3. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL), lowest-observed adverse-effect level (LOAEL), or benchmark concentration, with uncertainty factors generally applied to reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in EPA's noncancer human health risk assessments.\n\n4. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive target groups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a NOAEL, LOAEL, or benchmark concentration, with uncertainty factors generally applied to reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in U.S. EPA's noncancer health assessments. Durations include acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic.\n\n5. The Reference Concentration (RfC) is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious noncancer effects during a lifetime.\n\n6. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime.\n\n7. An estimate of a continuous inhalation exposure unlikely to cause adverse health effects during a person's lifetime. This estimate includes sensitive groups such as children, asthmatics, and the elderly.\n\n8. An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious non-cancer health effects during a lifetime. The inhalation reference concentration is for continuous inhalation exposures.",
  "abbreviation": "RfC",
  "subject": "Health and safety",
  "references": [
    "Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Glossary",
    "Durations include acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic and are defined individually in this glossary; EPA 2003",
    "Community-Based Air Pollution Projects Glossary",
    "Exposure Factors Handbook: Glossary",
    "Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) Glossary",
    "Benchmark Dose Software (BMDS) Glossary of Terms",
    "AirToxScreen Glossary of Terms",
    "Glossary of Asbestos-related Terms and Acronyms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/reference-concentration/"
}