Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs)

TEELs are temporary guidelines designed to predict the response of members of the general public to different concentrations of a chemical during an emergency response incident.

±·´Ç³Ù±ð:ÌýTEEL values are no longer shown specifically in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ, see PACs.

What are TEELs?

TEELs estimate the concentrations at which most people will begin to experience health effects if they are exposed to a hazardous airborne chemical for a given duration. TEELs are used in similar situations as the 60-minute AEGLs and ERPGs.

TEEL-1 is a detection or mild effects threshold. TEEL-2 is an escape impairment threshold. TEEL-3 is a life-threatening effects threshold.A chemical may have up to three TEEL values, each of which corresponds to a specific tier of health effects. The three TEEL tiers are defined as follows:

  • TEEL-3 is the airborne concentration (expressed as ppm [parts per million] or mg/m3 [milligrams per cubic meter]) of a substance above which it is predicted that the general population, including susceptible individuals, when exposed for more than one hour, could experience life-threatening adverse health effects or death.
  • TEEL-2 is the airborne concentration (expressed as ppm or mg/m3) of a substance above which it is predicted that the general population, including susceptible individuals, when exposed for more than one hour, could experience irreversible or other serious, long-lasting, adverse health effects or an impaired ability to escape.
  • TEEL-1 is the airborne concentration (expressed as ppm or mg/m3) of a substance above which it is predicted that the general population, including susceptible individuals, when exposed for more than one hour, could experience notable discomfort, irritation, or certain asymptomatic, nonsensory effects. However, these effects are not disabling and are transient and reversible upon cessation of exposure.

For More Information

  • How are TEELs chosen?How are TEELs chosen?

    TEELsTemporary Emergency Exposure Limits are levels of concern representing the adverse health effects of a hazardous substance on members of the general public. TEELs are defined by the U.S. Department of Energy for use when ERPGs or AEGLs aren't available. are derived by the U.S. Department of Energy Subcommittee on Consequence Assessment and Protective Actions (SCAPA) according to a specific, standard methodology. The TEEL methodology uses available levels of concern and manipulates current data using a peer-reviewed, approved procedure in order to establish the TEELs.

    AEGLs and ERPGs, on the other hand, are derived from extensive reviews of animal and human studies. Recognizing that AEGLs and ERPGs are better public exposure guidelines, the TEEL methodology prescribes replacing the TEEL values with those values when they become available. The 60-minute AEGL value is used preferentially, followed by the ERPG value.

    ±·´Ç³Ù±ð:ÌýThis hierarchy of values (60-minute AEGLs > ERPGs > TEELs) is implemented in the PACs dataset, which is also provided by the TEEL developers.

    However, the extensive review process for AEGLs and ERPGs that enhances the quality of those values also increases the amount of time it takes for chemicals to be defined under each system. Only about 175 substances have final AEGLs and about 150 chemicals have ERPGs.

    TEELs can be derived relatively quickly for almost any chemical; as a result, TEELs are available for thousands of chemicals. TEELs can provide a useful reference when no other public exposure guidelines are available. To find out more about TEELs (or PACs), go to the External link..

  • What substances have TEELs?What substances have TEELs?

    More than 3,000 chemicals have TEELsTemporary Emergency Exposure Limits are levels of concern representing the adverse health effects of a hazardous substance on members of the general public. TEELs are defined by the U.S. Department of Energy for use when ERPGs or AEGLs aren't available.. To find current TEEL values, go to the External link..

  • How should TEELs be used?How should TEELs be used?

    TEELsTemporary Emergency Exposure Limits are levels of concern representing the adverse health effects of a hazardous substance on members of the general public. TEELs are defined by the U.S. Department of Energy for use when ERPGs or AEGLs aren't available. should be used to help protect the public when AEGLsAcute Exposure Guideline Levels are levels of concern representing the adverse health effects of a hazardous substance on members of the general public. AEGL values were developed by the National Advisory Committee on AEGLs. As of November 2011, ongoing AEGL development will be done by a National Academy of Sciences subcommittee (www.epa.gov/aegl). or ERPGsEmergency Response Planning Guidelines are levels of concern representing the adverse health effects of a hazardous substance on members of the general public. ERPGs are developed by the ERPG committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (www.aiha.org). aren't available and there has been a chemical release that is short-term in duration.

    TEELs estimate how nearly all of the public would react to a release of this nature, so they can be used to identify areas where a hazard exists if the concentrationThe amount of a chemical present in a given weight or volume of air. Concentration of a gas in air may be expressed in units such as parts per million (by volume) or milligrams per cubic meter. of hazardous gas is exceeded for a given duration. For example, in areas with concentrations just above the TEEL-1, most people would experience temporary, non-disabling effects. On the other hand, in areas with concentrations just above the TEEL-2, most people would experience significant—but not life-threatening—health effects.

    TEELs shouldn't be used as:

    • Guidelines for workers who are routinely exposed to chemicals for longer durations. In such cases, you should use workplace exposure limits, because they contain safety factors specific to that type of exposure.
    • Guidelines for members of the public who are exposed to background chemical releases for longer durations. In these types of air quality issues, values such as the External link. should be used rather than emergency response guidelines.

TEEL Information Online

  • External link. Get a summary of the PACs dataset and links to key resources on this Department of Energy site.
  • External link. Search for TEEL values in a database on this Department of Energy site.  AEGL and ERPG values are also available.
  • :External link. Get background information on the PACs and TEELs development on this Department of Energy site.