Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Air: Fate, Exposure, and Risk Analysis (FERA)

Download Human Exposure Model (HEM)

Fate, Exposure and Risk Models Download
  • General Information
  • TRIM.FaTE Download
  • TRIM.ExpoInhalation/ APEX Download
  • TRIM.Risk Download
  • HAPEM Download
  • HEM Download

For general information and documentation on HEM, please see the HEM page.

HEM5.0

1. Installation Instructions

  1. Hardware/Software Requirements. You can use HEM5.0 on any Windows™-based personal computer running Windows 98™ or later. Disk space requirements will depend on the number of meteorological files that you use. If using HEM5.0 to model only facilities in a single state, then only the meteorological data for that state need to be extracted from the zip file, and the model would require less disk space. To use all the nationwide meteorological files, 1.7 gigabytes of disk space are needed. The model also will need a minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM.
  2. Download documentation files from HEM home page, and review information on installing and configuring HEM5.0.
  3. Download the HEM5.0 zip file. (See Section 2 below.)
  4. Select the directory on your computer to install HEM5.0 and unzip/extract the contents into that directory. The basic files needed to run HEM5.0 will be placed in that directory. A number of subdirectories will also be created.
  5. To complete the installation of HEM5.0, the Input Files provided in Section 3 below must be downloaded to your PC. Each .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in a particular subdirectory of the HEM5 installation directory. Place the Toxicity Value Files in the resources subdirectory (HEM5.0\resources), the Census File in the census subdirectory (HEM5.0\census), and the Meteorological Files in the MetData subdirectory (HEM5.0\aermod\MetData).

2. Software Available for Download

Please read installation instructions above before installing files. 

  • HEM5.0 (zip) (May 2025)

3. Input Files for HEM5.0

Before you run HEM, check this webpage for updates to any of the Input Files in this section. We periodically update these files and we recommend using the latest updates.

  • Toxicity Value Files

    •   HEM Toxicity Value Files (zip)  (May 2025) - This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the resources subdirectory (HEM5.0\resources). The HEM5.0.zip already includes these two toxicity value files, so you will need to replace those two files with the latest files posted here.

      These include a set of acute and chronic dose-response values compiled by OAQPS for purposes of RTR screening-level analyses; for some chemicals, surrogate values, identified based on policy considerations for these specific purposes, have been included. Users should review and confirm values are appropriate for their uses, making corrections or updates as needed prior to using. An accompanying file identifies the target organs associated with the chronic values.

  • Census File

    • Nationwide 2020 Census File (zip)  (May 2025) - Note: HEM5.0 was designed to use one combined 2020 census file. This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the census subdirectory (HEM5.0\census).

  • Meteorological Files

    • Nationwide Meteorological Data Files for 2019 (zip)  (updated 2022) - This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the MetData subdirectory (HEM5.0\aermod\MetData).

4. Available Tool

  • Block Check Tool

    The 2020 Block Check Tool is available to assist users in determining the locations of receptors to remove from the 2020 Census file, add to the 2020 Census file, or move to a different location within the 2020 Census file. See Section 4 of HEM4.2 below for instructions on how to download and install the 2020 Block Check Tool.

HEM4.2

1. Installation Instructions

  1. Hardware/Software Requirements. You can use HEM4.2 on any Windows™-based personal computer running Windows 98™ or later. Disk space requirements will depend on the number of census and meteorological files that you use. If using HEM4.2 to model only facilities in a single state, then only the census and meteorological data for that state need to be extracted from the zip file, and the model would require less disk space. To use all the nationwide Census and meteorological files, 3.3 gigabytes of disk space are needed. The model also will need a minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM.
  2. Download documentation files from HEM home page, and review information on installing and configuring HEM4.2.
  3. Download the HEM4.2 zip file. (See Section 2 below.)
  4. Select the directory on your computer to install HEM4.2 and unzip/extract the contents into that directory. The basic files needed to run HEM4.2 will be placed in that directory. A number of subdirectories will also be created.
  5. To complete the installation of HEM4.2, the Input Files provided in Section 3 below must be downloaded to your PC. Each .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in a particular subdirectory of the HEM4 installation directory. Place the Toxicity Value Files in the resources subdirectory (HEM4\resources), the Census Files in the census subdirectory (HEM4\census), and the Meteorological files in the MetData subdirectory (HEM4\aermod\MetData).

2. Software Available for Download

Please read installation instructions above before installing files. The HEM4.2 source code is also available.

  • HEM4.2 (zip)  (April 2025)

3. Input Files for HEM4.2

Before you run HEM, check this webpage for updates to any of the Input Files in this section. We periodically update these files and we recommend using the latest updates.

  • Toxicity Value Files

    • HEM Toxicity Value Files (zip)  (May 2025) - This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the resources subdirectory (HEM4\resources).

      These include a set of acute and chronic dose-response values compiled by OAQPS for purposes of RTR screening-level analyses; for some chemicals, surrogate values, identified based on policy considerations for these specific purposes, have been included. Users should review and confirm values are appropriate for their uses, making corrections or updates as needed prior to using. An accompanying file identifies the target organs associated with the chronic values.

  • Census Files

    • Nationwide 2020 Census files (zip)  (September 2024) - Note: HEM4.2 was designed to use 2020 census files. This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the census subdirectory (HEM4\census).

  • Meteorological Files

    • Nationwide Meteorological Data Files for 2019 (zip)  (updated 2022) - This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the MetData subdirectory (HEM4\aermod\MetData).

4. Available Tool

  • Block Check Tool

    Starting with HEM4.2, the 2020 Block Check Tool is available to assist users in determining the locations of receptors to remove from the Census files, move to a different location, or add to the Census files.
    • Instructions
      • Download the 2020_Block_Check_Tool.zip and unzip this folder on your computer. Download the two "Resource" files (Census2020_US_HEM.zip, and 2020_Block_Polygons_Final.zip). Place the unzipped versions of these two files into the “Resources” folder of the unzipped 2020 Block Check Tool. To use the tool, double click on the “BlockCheckTool.exe” to start the program. Follow the user instructions given in the 2020_Block_Check_Tool_Guide.pdf

    • Tool Guide
      • 2020 Block Check Tool Guide (pdf) (98.59 KB)  (September 2024)

    • Software Available for Download
      • 2020 Block Check Tool (zip)  (September 2024)

    • Resource Files
      • Census2020_US_HEM (zip) (September 2024)
      • 2020_Block_Polygons_Final (zip) (September 2024)

HEM4.1

1. Installation Instructions

  1. Hardware/Software Requirements. You can use HEM4.1 (and the RTR summary programs) on any Windows™-based personal computer running Windows 98™ or later. Disk space requirements will depend on the number of census and meteorological files that you use. If using HEM4.1 to model only facilities in a single state, then only the census and meteorological data for that state need to be extracted from the zip file, and the model would require less disk space. To use all the nationwide Census and meteorological files, 2.2 gigabytes of disk space are needed. The model also will need a minimum of 132 megabytes of RAM.
  2. Download documentation files from HEM home page, and review information on installing and configuring HEM4.1.
  3. Download the HEM4.1 zip file. (See Section 2 below.)
  4. Select the directory on your computer to install HEM4.1 and unzip/extract the contents into that directory. The basic files needed to run HEM4.1 will be placed in that directory. A number of subdirectories will also be created.
  5. To complete the installation of HEM4.1, the Input Files provided in Section 3 below must be downloaded to your PC. Each .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in a particular subdirectory of the HEM4 installation directory. Place the Toxicity Value Files in the resources subdirectory (HEM4\resources), the Census Files in the census subdirectory(HEM4\census), and the Meteorological files in the MetData subdirectory (HEM4\aermod\MetData).

 2. Software Available for Download

Please read installation instructions above before installing files. The HEM4.1 source code is also available.

  • HEM4, ver 1.1 (zip)

3. Input Files for HEM4.1

Please read installation instructions above before installing files.

  • Toxicity Value Files

    • This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed  in the resources subdirectory (HEM4\resources).

      These include a set of acute and chronic dose-response values compiled by OAQPS for purposes of RTR screening-level analyses; for some chemicals, surrogate values, identified based on policy considerations for these specific purposes, have been included. Users should review and confirm values are appropriate for their uses, making corrections or updates as needed prior to using. An accompanying file identifies the target organs associated with the chronic values.

    • These files are available via link in Section 3 of HEM4.2 above.

  • Census Files

    • Nationwide 2010 Census files (zip)   (March 2023) - Note: HEM4.1 was designed to use 2010 census files. This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the census subdirectory (HEM4\census).
  • Meteorological Files

    • These files are available via link in section 3 of HEM4.2 above. This .ZIP file must be unzipped, and the contents placed in the MetData subdirectory (HEM4\aermod\MetData).

Links to Related Information

  • Human Exposure Modeling - General Information
  • Fate, Exposure, and Risk Models Download Page
  • Fate, Exposure, and Risk Analysis Home Page

Air: Fate, Exposure, and Risk Analysis (FERA)

  • Total Risk Integrated Methodology (TRIM)
    • TRIM.FaTE
    • TRIM.Expo
    • TRIM.Risk
    • Peer Review and Publications
  • Multimedia Fate and Transport Modeling
    • TRIM.FaTE
    • Other Models and Related Information
  • Human Exposure Assessment and Modeling
    • Criteria Air Pollutant Exposure Assessment
    • Databases to Support Exposure Modeling
    • Air Pollutants Exposure Model (APEX/ TRIM.Expo Inhalation)
    • Hazardous Air Pollutant Exposure Model (HAPEM)
    • Other Models and Exposure-Related Information
  • Risk Assessment and Modeling
    • Air Toxics Risk Assessment
    • Criteria Air Pollutant Risk Assessment
    • Human Exposure Model (HEM)
    • EPA Risk Assessment Policy, Guidelines, and Related Materials
Contact Us about FERA
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 8, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.