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Chemical management and risk assessment frameworks rely on regulatory toxicity values, but these are available for only a small fraction of commercialized chemicals due to limited available data. To address this gap, the study aims to expand the coverage of chemicals for which toxicity values can be derived by determining surrogate inhalation route points of departure (PODs) and corresponding toxicity values where regulatory assessments are lacking. In vivo data from the U.S. EPA's Toxicity Value Database were curated and selected, and effect values were adjusted to chronic human equivalent benchmark concentrations (BMC_h) using the WHO/IPCS framework. Chemical-specific PODs are crucial for evaluating potential risks and toxicological impacts from chemical exposures, and the statistically derived BMCL or LOAEC/NOAEC are typically used as candidate PODs for toxicity value derivation.

This is a pre-print manuscript pending publication in open access scientific journals.

This document has been developed within the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project ID: 9771 on Global Best Practices on Emerging Chemical Policy Issues of Concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

The study examines the near-field exposures and health risks of organic chemicals in interior paints commonly used in Sri Lanka. The researchers developed mass balance-based and high-throughput models to predict chemical emissions during wet and dry phases and integrated these models into the USEtox model for health risk assessment. The models accurately predicted indoor air concentrations and drying time. They found that inhalation is the primary exposure pathway, and exposure is much higher for painters during application than for household members during use. The study identified chemicals of concern and recommended the use of protective equipment for painters and increasing air ventilation rates to reduce exposure for household members.

This is a pre-print manuscript pending publication in open access scientific journals.

This document has been developed within the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project ID: 9771 on Global Best Practices on Emerging Chemical Policy Issues of Concern under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).