Guidance for Air Process

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) develops health-based guidance to evaluate potential human health risks from exposures to chemicals in air in accordance with methods described in the 2001 SONAR (PDF). This guidance is developed at the request of MDH programs and other state agencies, such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

MDH staff release a health-based air guidance to the public by posting the guidance and accompanying information on the Air Guidance Values table. We notify subscribers via the GovDelivery email subscription service. While MDH always welcomes public comments, there is no formal public comment period for air guidance values.

In order to maintain accurate and current guidance values, all chemical guidance derived from 2002 to present using the methods described in the 2001 SONAR can be re-evaluated as requested. A chemical may be selected for re-evaluation based on, but not limited to, the following:

1. Substantive new toxicological information
2. Programmatic need for an updated value
3. Change in MDH risk assessment methodology

To see the available guidance for ambient air, please visit Air Guidance Values.

For more information on Health Risk Values Rules, see Health Risk Values Rules for Ambient Air.

Subscribe to receive notification when chemical reviews are initiated and when guidance is issued for chemicals in ambient air.