In a March 1, 2016, Federal Register Notice, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) invited the public to nominate scientific experts to be considered as peer reviewers for the contractor-managed, external peer review of the draft Biologically Based Dose-Response (BBDR) model for perchlorate in drinking water and the draft model support document. The draft model predicts changes in thyroid hormones in sensitive life stages exposed to different dietary iodide and perchlorate levels.
US EPA has been working with scientists at the Food and Drug Administration to develop the model recommended by US EPA's Science Advisory Board for the derivation of a maximum contaminant level goal for perchlorate in drinking water. The model integrates previous perchlorate and iodine models for thyroid hormones in formula-fed and nursing infants, as well as lactating women. The model predicts the effects of perchlorate on serum thyroid hormone concentrations in infants exposed via ingestion of formula mixed with contaminated drinking water or breast milk. US EPA anticipates releasing the draft model and draft model support document for peer review and public comment in the near future (the exact date to be determined).
Any interested person or organization may nominate scientific experts to be considered as peer reviewers. Nominations should be submitted in time to arrive no later than March 31, 2016. Self-nominations also will be accepted. Nominations should be submitted to the US EPA contractor, Versar, Inc., using the following email address: perchlorate@versar.com (the subject line should read: BBDR Model Peer Review). Nominations also will be accepted via US Postal Service mail or by an overnight/priority mail service. Mailed nominations should be addressed to Versar, Inc., 6850 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151 (Attention: David Bottimore). For additional information, please see the Federal Register Notice.