(a) Upon the request of the state board, the office, in consultation with and with the participation of the state board, shall evaluate the health effects of and prepare recommendations regarding substances, other than pesticides in their pesticidal use, which may be or are emitted into the ambient air of California and that may be determined to be toxic air contaminants. (b) In conducting this evaluation, the office shall consider all available scientific data, including, but not limited to, relevant data provided by the state board, the State Department of Health Services, the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, international and federal health agencies, private industry, academic researchers, and public health and environmental organizations. The evaluation shall be performed using current principles, practices, and methods used by public health professionals who are experienced practitioners in the fields of epidemiology, human health effects assessment, risk assessment, and toxicity. (c) (1) The evaluation shall assess the availability and quality of data on health effects, including potency, mode of action, and other relevant biological factors, of the substance, and shall, to the extent that information is available, assess all of the following: (A) Exposure patterns among infants and children that are likely to result in disproportionately high exposure to ambient air pollutants in comparison to the general population. (B) Special susceptibility of infants and children to ambient air pollutants in comparison to the general population. (C) The effects on infants and children of exposure to toxic air contaminants and other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity. (D) The interaction of multiple air pollutants on infants and children, including the interaction between criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants. (2) The evaluation shall also contain an estimate of the levels of exposure that may cause or contribute to adverse health effects. If it can be established that a threshold of adverse health effects exists, the estimate shall include both of the following factors: (A) The exposure level below which no adverse health effects are anticipated. (B) An ample margin of safety that accounts for the variable effects that heterogeneous human populations exposed to the substance under evaluation may experience, the uncertainties associated with the applicability of the data to human beings, and the completeness and quality of the information available on potential human exposure to the substance. In cases in which there is no threshold of significant adverse health effects, the office shall determine the range of risk to humans resulting from current or anticipated exposure to the substance. (3) The scientific basis or scientific portion of the method used by the office to assess the factors set forth in this subdivision shall be reviewed in a manner consistent with this chapter by the Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants established pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 39670). Any person may submit any information for consideration by the panel, which may receive oral testimony. (d) The office shall submit its written evaluation and recommendations to the state board within 90 days after receiving the request of the state board pursuant to subdivision (a). The office may, however, petition the state board for an extension of the deadline, not to exceed 30 days, setting forth its statement of the reasons that prevent the office from completing its evaluation and recommendations within 90 days. Upon receipt of a request for extension of, or noncompliance with, the deadline contained in this section, the state board shall immediately transmit to the Assembly Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules, for transmittal to the appropriate standing, select, or joint committee of the Legislatu
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