The US EPA’s preferred toxicity value for evaluating non-carcinogenic effects resulting from exposures at Superfund sites. See also chronic and sub-chronic reference dose.
a benchmark level for chronic toxicity that is protective of human health
an estimate of daily exposure to an agent which is likely to be without adverse health effects in the general population, including those who are especially susceptible
an estimate of the daily lifetime exposure to a chemical that is not expected to cause adverse (noncancer) effects
an estimation of the amount of methyl mercury that, if consumed, would not be expected to cause an appreciable risk of adverse health effects over a lifetime
a scientific estimate of a daily exposure level that is not expected to cause adverse health effects in humans
a truly conservative guideline that will maintain a high degree of safety
A reference dose is defined as an acceptable dose level determined by reviewing chemical toxicity and dose-response information. The reference doses for noncarcinogens are specified in the Washington Toxics Control Act Tables).
An estimate of the daily exposure dose that is likely to be without appreciable health effect even if continued exposure occurs over a lifetime. Related term: Acceptable Daily Intake.
The amount of a substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious effects to an organism during a lifetime.
The maximum daily exposure to a chemical that is judged to be without risk of adverse systemic health effects over a person's lifetime. It formerly was called the Acceptable Daily Intake.
The amount of a chemical that, if ingested daily over a lifetime, is not expected to cause any adverse health effects. The RfD is calculated by dividing the NOEL by a safety factor, usually 100, to provide additional margins of safety. The safety factor allows for individual variations in susceptibility to toxic substances and for species differences between humans and tort animals.
an estimate of a daily exposure level for the human population, including sensitive subpopulations, that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. [Source: Virginia Voluntary Remediation Regulations, 9 VAC 20-160-10
The highest daily dose that the most sensitive member(s) in the population can be exposed to over a lifetime without experiencing any adverse effect(s). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting the methylmercury RfD at 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (µg/ kg-day). This RfD builds in a ten-fold (10x) safety factor, making it the world’s most restrictive mercury standard.
The concentration of a chemical known to cause health problems; also referred to as the ADI, or acceptable daily intake.()
Term used for an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a daily exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. Barnes and Dourson, 1988 RT acceptable daily intake. BT dose.
A dose specified by EPA to limit human oral exposure to potentially hazardous levels of chemicals that are thought to have thresholds for their effects (i.e., noncarcinogens).
An estimate of the daily ingestion dose, expressed in terms of amount per unit of body weight, that can be taken daily over a lifetime without appreciable risk. more
An estimate, with safety factors (see safety factor) built in, of the daily, life-time exposure of human populations to a possible hazard that is not likely to cause harm to the person.
An estimate of the daily exposure of the human population to a potential hazard that is likely to be without risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. RfDs are not applicable to nonthreshold effects such as cancer.
is an estimate of the daily exposure to a contaminant unlikely to cause noncarcinogenic adverse health effects. Like ATSDR's MRL, EPA's RfD is a dose expressed in mg/kg/day.
An exposure level defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as "a numerical estimate of a daily oral exposure to the human population, including sensitive subgroups such as children, that is not likely to cause harmful effects during a lifetime."
An estimate of a skin absorption dose that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects
The value used by EPA as an estimate of daily exposure (mg/kg/day) to the general human population (including sensitive populations) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of harmful effects during a lifetime of exposure.
The amount of contaminant that an individual can ingest on a daily basis for their lifetime that is not likely to result in adverse noncancer health effects. A reference dose is protective of the entire human population, including sensitive subpopulations. A reference dose is expressed in units of milligrams per day exposure to the contaminant per kilogram of body weight of the exposed individual.
An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a daily oral exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a NOAEL, LOAEL, or benchmark dose, with uncertainty factors generally applied to reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in EPA's noncancer health assessments. [Durations include acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic and are defined individually in this glossary].
The RfD is a numerical estimate of a daily oral exposure to the human population, including sensitive subgroups such as children, that is not likely to cause harmful effects during a lifetime. RfDs are generally used for health effects that are thought to have a threshold or low dose limit for producing effects.
An estimate of a daily oral exposure for a given duration to the human population (including susceptible subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of adverse health effects over a lifetime. It is derived from a BMDL, a NOAEL, a LOAEL, or another suitable point of departure, with uncertainty/variability factors applied to reflect limitations of the data used. [Durations include acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic and are defined individually in this glossary]. This definition archived 12/23/05
A reference dose is the minimum safe dose when dealing with toxic non-carcinogens.