ERPG Levels
What is ERPG-1?
A level below which nearly all individuals can be exposed for 1 hour without more than mild, transient effects or strong odors.
What does AEGL stand for?
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels.
What does TEEL estimate?
The airborne concentration likely to produce health effects in the general public during emergencies.
What does IDLH mean?
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health – concentrations that can cause death, permanent harm, or prevent escape.
ERPG vs AEGL
Both offer tiered exposure limits, but ERPGs are for 1-hour only and AEGLs have multiple timeframes.
What does ERPG-2 indicate?
The concentration below which exposure won't cause irreversible or serious health effects or impair the ability to escape.
Describe AEGL-1 effects.
Notable discomfort or irritation; reversible effects, no long-term health risk.
Define TEEL-2
A concentration above which irreversible or serious long-term effects, or impaired escape, may occur.
How is IDLH used?
To determine required protective equipment and safe entry procedures for workers.
AEGL vs TEEL
AEGLs are peer-reviewed and scientifically rigorous; TEELs are interim values used when AEGLs aren’t available.
What makes ERPG-3 critical?
It is the level above which life-threatening health effects may occur; it's used for worst-case emergency planning.
What exposure durations are used?
10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours, and 8 hours.
How are TEELs like AEGLs?
Both define three severity tiers and are used to guide emergency response for chemical exposure.
What does “immediate” mean in IDLH?
Effects may occur instantly or soon after exposure, requiring instant action or escape.
TEEL vs IDLH
TEELs apply to public exposure; IDLH is for workplace safety and equipment requirements.
Define nuisance level.
A level that may cause discomfort or irritation but does not result in health risks or impair escape.
What makes AEGL-3 severe?
AEGL-3 represents life-threatening effects or death in susceptible individuals.
What’s different about TEEL durations?
TEELs do not differentiate by time periods like AEGLs; they are primarily used for 1-hour estimates.
Give one example of IDLH use.
Multiple examples, one of which could be determining the need for SCBA gear when entering a potentially hazardous environment.
IDLH vs ERPG
IDLH is occupational; ERPG is public-focused with three defined tiers.
What’s the difference in effect between ERPG-1, 2, and 3?
ERPG-1: mild discomfort/odor;
ERPG-2: serious but non-lethal effects or impaired escape;
ERPG-3: potentially life-threatening.
Why include sensitive groups?
To ensure public protection, including children, elderly, and the ill.
Why are TEEL-3 and IDLH not equal?
TEEL-3 is a predictive public exposure guideline, while IDLH is an occupational exposure limit requiring immediate protective action.
Compare IDLH with AEGL-3.
IDLH applies to workers and equipment decisions; AEGL-3 includes the general population and is based on public exposure modeling.
AEGL-2 vs TEEL-2
Both define thresholds for serious health effects, but AEGLs use time durations while TEELs are for a general 1-hour exposure.