Pesticides benchmark values

Toxic chemical intake must be quantified in order that comparisons between different chemicals (e.g. pesticides), diets and countries can be made. Most countries in the developed world conduct surveys which involve analysing food for pesticide residues. These values are then put in context by comparing them to benchmarks of toxicity (Acceptable Daily Intake - ADI) or with trading standards (Maximum Residue Level -MRL) which are set to ensure that countries exporting food do not export excessive pesticide residues with that food. 

In the draft ruling, the U.S. EPA summcirized the toxicity information on isopropyl-bromide and another similcu ly structured chemical, the pesticide dibromochloro-propane (DBCP), and used the greater toxicity of these chemiccds as one means to support the need for an uncertcunty factor to lower the value obtcuned for nPB using the benchmark dose method. 

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