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FIFRA SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL (SAP)
OPEN MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2001

March 20, 2001

FIFRA SAP WEB SITE https://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/

OPP Docket Telephone: (703)305-5805

Sheraton Crystal City Hotel
1800 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 486-1111

• 8:30 AM Introduction of Panel Members - Mary Anna Thrall, D.V.M. (FIFRA SAP Session Chair)
• 8:45 AM Administrative Procedures by Designated Federal Official - Ms. Olga Odiott
• 8:50 AM Welcome - Steven K. Galson, M.D. M.P.H. (Director, Office of Science Coordination and Policy, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, EPA)
• 9:00 AM Opening Remarks - Joseph J. Merenda, (Acting Deputy Office Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA) HRI LifeLineT - System Operation Review
• 9:10 AM Introduction and Overview -Carol Christensen, Health Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA
• 9:30 AM Basic Concepts - Paul Price, M.S., The LifeLineT Group
  1. Objectives of the Effort
  2. Overview of the Nature of the Model
  3. Use of Databases
• 10:00 AM Model Methods and Operations - John S. Young, Ph.D., and Carol M. Benes, M.S., Hampshire Research Institute
  Design Decisions, Structure, and Source Code
  1. Representation of Information in Knowledge
  2. Technical Manual
  3. Aggregate Exposure and Risk
• 10:30 AM BREAK
• 10:45 AM Analysis and Report Options - Christine Chaisson, Ph.D., The LifeLineT Group
  Data Entry, Modification of Default Values, Use of Seasonal Data
  1. Options for Model Assessment Modes
  2. Options for Reporting Results
  3. Exporting Calculation Results
  4. Tracking and Viewing Exposure Drivers
• 11:15 AM Public Comments
• 12:15 PM LUNCH
• 1:30 PM Questions to the Panel - Francis Suhre, M.S., Health Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA
  
  Model Operation Question 1: The LifeLineT - CD includes model documentation in the form of a Users' Manual, Technical Manual, and Demonstration Case. Is this documentation sufficient to understand and operate the model?

  
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Mark Whalon, Dr. Harold Van Es, and Dr. Nu -may Ruby Reed

  Question 2: The LifeLineT - CD includes "pre -packaged" data files for use in conjunction with the Demonstration Case as well as Knowledge base files which are used by the model to estimate potential exposure and risk. Were panel members able to generate a risk assessment report and identify routes of exposure and populations at risk, using the "pre -packaged" data files provided on the CD? Were panel members able to identify exposure contributors, and the data/assumptions used in the exposure/risk calculation by examination of output reports, output files (e.g. Exposure.bdf, Lives.dbf, Ractiv.dbf)and knowledge base files (e.g. Rtrecipe.dbf, Rtfoodit.dbf, Rtcgrac.dbf)? Please note these files are located in C:/HRI/RTL.
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Natalie Freeman, Dr. Harold Van Es and Ms. Sally Powell

  Question 3: LifeLineT reports are based on seasonal maximums and means of exposure. From the standpoint of producing a comprehensive risk assessment, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the reports generated by LifeLineT? Which reports are particularly useful for risk assessment and are there other types of reports that the Panel would suggest?
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Steven Heeringa, Dr. Scott Ferson, and Dr. Mark Whalon
  
  Question 4: LifeLineT contains more than 90,000 lines of C++ computer code. The panel was provided annotated code for the risk assessment algorithms used in LifeLineT . Do the algorithms in the annotated code perform the functions defined in the LifeLineT Technical Manual?
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Scott Ferson, Dr. Peter Macdonald, and Dr. Dale Hattis

• 3:00 PM Break
• 3:15 PM Questions to the Panel (Cont.)

  Model Architecture

  Question 5: LifeLineT relies heavily on survey data and EPA SOPs to estimate exposure and the frequency of exposure. These include:

  • Natality data ((Birth records) National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS]),
  • Residential patterns (Current Population Statistics, US Census),
  • The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ((NHANES III), also maintained by NCHS)
  • American Housing Survey (US Census and Department of Housing and Urban Development),
  • Nation Home and Garden Pesticide Use Survey (US EPA, 1992b)
  • National Human Activity Pattern Survey (US EPA, 1994),
  • The Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII), US Department of Agriculture (USDA,),
  • Residential Exposure SOPs (US EPA, 1998), and
  • Exposure Factors Handbook (US EPA, 1997)
  
  
  Would the Panel please comment on the appropriateness of using these surveys/SOPs in the LifeLineT model to estimate exposure and frequency of exposure to pesticides?
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Steven Heeringa, Dr. Natalie Freeman, and Dr. Mark Whalon

  Question 6: LifeLineT uses the USDA CSFII survey (a 24 hour dietary recall for 2 or 3 days) to estimate daily dietary exposure over an individual's hypothetical life-time (ca. 85 years). This is done by matching criteria (age, gender, etc...) from CSFII with the individual being modeled by LifeLineT. Would the Panel please comment on this feature of the model?
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Peter Macdonald, Dr. Scott Ferson, and Ms. Sally Powell
  
  Question 7: LifeLineT estimates route specific risk via a route specific toxicological endpoint, but estimates the systemic or aggregate risk by route to route extrapolation using absorption factors. Would the Panel please comment on the appropriateness of this approach to estimating aggregate risk in this model?
  
  Lead Discussants: Dr. Dale Hattis, Dr. Mary Anna Thrall, and Dr. Natalie Freeman

• 5:00 PM ADJOURNMENT

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