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Office of Toxicity Assessment
The Illinois EPA Office of Toxicity Assessment plays a critical role in safeguarding public health and the environment. Its mission is to evaluate human health and ecological risks from exposure to hazardous substances and ensure that cleanup standards and environmental decisions are based on sound science.
The office calculates remediation goals for soil, groundwater, sediment, and other environmental media; reviews technical data; and develops remediation objectives for hundreds of chemicals across multiple exposure pathways. It provides scientific expertise to other Illinois EPA programs, serves as a liaison with the public health community, and participates in updates to Illinois regulations, including groundwater quality standards, surface water criteria, risk-based cleanup objectives, and chemical safety guidelines. The office also advises on advances in scientific research, offers guidance on federal policies, and serves as an expert witness before the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
The Office of Toxicity Assessment is working to update cleanup standards to address emerging contaminants such as PFAS (Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate). Plans include expanding public education and outreach to help communities understand environmental health risks and how to stay informed. The Office of Toxicity Assessment also researches information and data concerning health effects of emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), harmful algae blooms (HABs), and microplastics, and it assesses health risks from consuming fish with harmful substances in fish tissue.