Hazard index

A Hazard Index (HI): is the sum of hazard quotients for substances that affect the same target organ or organ system.

Because different pollutants may cause similar adverse health effects, it is often appropriate to combine hazard quotients associated with different substances. EPA has drafted revisions to the national guidelines on mixtures that support combining the effects of different substances in specific and limited ways. Ideally, hazard quotients should be combined for pollutants that cause adverse effects by the same toxic mechanism. However, because detailed information on toxic mechanisms was not available for most of the substances in this assessment, EPA aggregated only the effects of different respiratory irritants. The HI for respiratory irritation is only an approximation of the aggregate effect on the respiratory system (i.e., lungs and air passages) because it is possible that some of the substances cause irritation by different (i.e., non-additive) mechanisms. As with the hazard quotient, aggregate exposures below a HI of 1.0 will likely not result in adverse noncancer health effects over a lifetime of exposure. However, an HI greater than 1.0 does not necessarily suggest a likelihood of adverse effects. Furthermore, the HI cannot be translated to a probability that adverse effects will occur, and is not likely to be proportional to risk. A respiratory HI greater than 1.0 can be best described as indicating that a potential may exist for adverse irritation to the respiratory system.