EPA's risk assessment database available to public

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database is now available to the public online. The database contains the scientific studies that EPA uses as a basis for making regulatory decisions. You can browse the database by topic; the options include "Air Pollutants" (ozone,sufur dioxide, etc.), "Chemical & Substances" (asbestos, chlorine, mercury, etc. ), and "Health & Environmental Effects" (such as acid rain, cancer, & climate change). According to the HERO site,"Public participation, transparency and collaboration are key elements to the success of HERO. The Open Government Directive is to break down long-standing barriers between the federal government and you. HERO helps accomplish this by sharing the scientific literature used in risk assessment development."