TABLE 40: Human Health Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants

Effective [EPA Approval]

 

Human Health Criteria Summary

The concentration for each pollutant listed in Table 40 was derived to protect Oregonians from potential adverse health impacts associated with long-term exposure to toxic substances associated with consumption of fish, shellfish, and water. The “organism only” criteria are established to protect fish and shellfish consumption and apply to waters of the state designated for fishing. The “water + organism” criteria are established to protect the consumption of drinking water, fish, and shellfish, and apply where both fishing and domestic water supply (public and private) are designated uses. All criteria are expressed as micrograms per liter (µg/L), unless otherwise noted. Pollutants are listed in alphabetical order. Additional information includes the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, whether the criterion is based on carcinogenic effects (can cause cancer in humans), and whether there is an aquatic life criterion for the pollutant (i.e. “y”= yes, “n” = no). All the human health criteria were calculated using a fish consumption rate of 175 grams per day unless otherwise noted. A fish consumption rate of 175 grams per day is approximately equal to 23 8-ounce fish meals per month. For pollutants categorized as carcinogens, values represent a cancer risk of one additional case of cancer in one million people (i.e. 10-6), unless otherwise noted. All metals criteria are for total metal concentration, unless otherwise noted. Italicized pollutants represent non-priority pollutants. The human health criteria revisions established by OAR 340-041-0033 and shown in Table 40 do not become applicable for purposes of ORS chapter 468B or the federal Clean Water Act until approved by EPA pursuant to 40 CFR 131.21 (4/27/2000).

 

Table 40

 

Human Health Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants

 

No.

Pollutant

CAS No.

Carcinogen

Aquatic Life Criterion

Human Health Criteria for the Consumption of:

     

Water + Organism (µg/L)

Organism Only (µg/L)

1

Acenaphthene

83329

n

n

95

99

2

Acrolein

107028

n

n

0.88

0.93

3

Acrylonitrile

107131

y

n

0.018

0.025

4

Aldrin

309002

y

y

0.0000050

0.0000050

5

Anthracene

120127

n

n

2900

4000

6

Antimony

7440360

n

n

5.1

64

7

Arsenic (inorganic) A

7440382

y

y

2.1

2.1(freshwater)

1.0 (saltwater)

A The arsenic criteria are expressed as total inorganic arsenic. The “organism only” criteria are based on a risk level of approximately 1.1 x 10-5, and the “water + organism” criterion is based on a risk level of 1 x 10-4.

8

Asbestos B

1332214

y

n

7,000,000 fibers/L

--

BThe human health risks from asbestos are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

9

Barium C

7440393

n

n

1000

--

C The human health criterion for barium is the same as originally published in the 1976 EPA Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value was also published in the 1986 EPA Gold Book. Human health risks are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

10

Benzene

71432

y

n

0.44

1.4

11

Benzidine

92875

y

n

0.000018

0.000020

12

Benz(a)anthracene

56553

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

13

Benzo(a)pyrene

50328

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

14

Benzo(b)fluoranthene 3,4

205992

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

15

Benzo(k)fluoranthene

207089

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

16

BHC Alpha

319846

y

n

0.00045

0.00049

17

BHC Beta

319857

y

n

0.0016

0.0017

18

BHC Gamma (Lindane)

58899

n

y

0.17

0.18

19

Bromoform

75252

y

n

3.3

14

20

Butylbenzyl Phthalate

85687

n

n

190

190

21

Carbon Tetrachloride

56235

y

n

0.10

0.16

22

Chlordane

57749

y

y

0.000081

0.000081

23

Chlorobenzene

108907

n

n

74

160

24

Chlorodibromomethane

124481

y

n

0.31

1.3

25

Chloroethyl Ether bis 2

111444

y

n

0.020

0.053

26

Chloroform

67663

n

n

260

1100

27

Chloroisopropyl Ether bis 2

108601

n

n

1200

6500

28

Chloromethyl ether, bis

542881

y

n

0.000024

0.000029

29

Chloronaphthalene 2

91587

n

n

150

160

30

Chlorophenol 2

95578

n

n

14

15

31

Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5,-TP) D

93721

n

n

10

--

D The Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4,5,-TP) criterion is the same as originally published in the 1976 EPA Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value was also published in the 1986 EPA Gold Book. Human health risks are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

32

Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4-D) E

94757

n

n

100

--

E The Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2,4-D) criterion is the same as originally published in the 1976 EPA Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value was also published in the 1986 EPA Gold Book. Human health risks are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

33

Chrysene

218019

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

34

Copper F

7440508

n

y

1300

--

F Human health risks from copper are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

35

Cyanide G

57125

n

y

130

130

G The cyanide criterion is expressed as total cyanide (CN)/L.

36

DDD 4,4'

72548

y

n

0.000031

0.000031

37

DDE 4,4'

72559

y

n

0.000022

0.000022

38

DDT 4,4'

50293

y

y

0.000022

0.000022

39

Dibenz(a,h)anthracene

53703

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

40

Dichlorobenzene(m) 1,3

541731

n

n

80

96

41

Dichlorobenzene(o) 1,2

95501

n

n

110

130

42

Dichlorobenzene(p) 1,4

106467

n

n

16

19

43

Dichlorobenzidine 3,3'

91941

y

n

0.0027

0.0028

44

Dichlorobromomethane

75274

y

n

0.42

1.7

45

Dichloroethane 1,2

107062

y

n

0.35

3.7

46

Dichloroethylene 1,1

75354

n

n

230

710

47

Dichloroethylene trans 1,2

156605

n

n

120

1000

48

Dichlorophenol 2,4

120832

n

n

23

29

49

Dichloropropane 1,2

78875

y

n

0.38

1.5

50

Dichloropropene 1,3

542756

y

n

0.30

2.1

51

Dieldrin

60571

y

y

0.0000053

0.0000054

52

Diethyl Phthalate

84662

n

n

3800

4400

53

Dimethyl Phthalate

131113

n

n

84000

110000

54

Dimethylphenol 2,4

105679

n

n

76

85

55

Di-n-butyl Phthalate

84742

n

n

400

450

56

Dinitrophenol 2,4

51285

n

n

62

530

57

Dinitrophenols

25550587

n

n

62

530

58

Dinitrotoluene 2,4

121142

y

n

0.084

0.34

59

Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD)

1746016

y

n

0.00000000051

0.00000000051

60

Diphenylhydrazine 1,2

122667

y

n

0.014

0.020

61

Endosulfan Alpha

959988

n

y

8.5

8.9

62

Endosulfan Beta

33213659

n

y

8.5

8.9

63

Endosulfan Sulfate

1031078

n

n

8.5

8.9

64

Endrin

72208

n

y

0.024

0.024

65

Endrin Aldehyde

7421934

n

n

0.030

0.030

66

Ethylbenzene

100414

n

n

160

210

67

Ethylhexyl Phthalate bis 2

117817

y

n

0.20

0.22

68

Fluoranthene

206440

n

n

14

14

69

Fluorene

86737

n

n

390

530

70

Heptachlor

76448

y

y

0.0000079

0.0000079

71

Heptachlor Epoxide

1024573

y

y

0.0000039

0.0000039

72

Hexachlorobenzene

118741

y

n

0.000029

0.000029

73

Hexachlorobutadiene

87683

y

n

0.36

1.8

74

Hexachlorocyclo-hexane-Technical

608731

y

n

0.0014

0.0015

75

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

77474

n

n

30

110

76

Hexachloroethane

67721

y

n

0.29

0.33

77

Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene

193395

y

n

0.0013

0.0018

78

Isophorone

78591

y

n

27

96

79

Manganese H

7439965

n 

n

--

100

H The “fish consumption only” criterion for manganese applies only to salt water and is for total manganese. This EPA recommended criterion predates the 1980 human health methodology and does not utilize the fish ingestion BCF calculation method or a fish consumption rate.

80

Methoxychlor I

72435

n

y

100

--

I The human health criterion for methoxychlor is the same as originally published in the 1976 EPA Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value was also published in the1986 EPA Gold Book. Human health risks are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

81

Methyl Bromide

74839

n

n

37

150

82

Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol 2

534521

n

n

9.2

28

83

Methylene Chloride

75092

y

n

4.3

59

84

Methylmercury (mg/kg) J

22967926

n

n

--

0.040 mg/kg

JThis value is expressed as the fish tissue concentration of methylmercury. Contaminated fish and shellfish is the primary human route of exposure to methylmercury

85

Nickel

7440020

n

y

140

170

86

Nitrates K

14797558

n

n

10000

--

KThe human health criterion for nitrates is the same as originally published in the 1976 EPA Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach. This same criterion value was also published in the 1986 EPA Gold Book. Human health risks are primarily from drinking water, therefore no “organism only” criterion was developed. The “water + organism” criterion is based on the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) established under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

87

Nitrobenzene

98953

n

n

14

69

88

Nitrosamines

35576911

y

n

0.00079

0.046

89

Nitrosodibutylamine, N

924163

y

n

0.0050

0.022

90

Nitrosodiethylamine, N

55185

y

n

0.00079

0.046

91

Nitrosodimethylamine, N

62759

y

n

0.00068

0.30

92

Nitrosodi-n-propylamine, N

621647

y

n

0.0046

0.051

93

Nitrosodiphenylamine, N

86306

y

n

0.55

0.60

94

Nitrosopyrrolidine, N

930552

y

n

0.016

3.4

95

Pentachlorobenzene

608935

n

n

0.15

0.15

96

Pentachlorophenol

87865

y

y

0.15

0.30

97

Phenol

108952

n

n

9400

86000

98

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) L

NA 

y

y

0.0000064

0.0000064

L This criterion applies to total PCBs (e.g. determined as Aroclors or congeners).

99

Pyrene

129000

n

n

290

400

100

Selenium

7782492

n

y

120

420

101

Tetrachlorobenzene, 1,2,4,5-

95943

n

n

0.11

0.11

102

Tetrachloroethane 1,1,2,2

79345

y

n

0.12

0.40

103

Tetrachloroethylene

127184

y

n

0.24

0.33

104

Thallium

7440280

n

n

0.043

0.047

105

Toluene

108883

n

n

720

1500

106

Toxaphene

8001352

y

y

0.000028

0.000028

107

Trichlorobenzene 1,2,4

120821

n

n

6.4

7.0

108

Trichloroethane 1,1,2

79005

y

n

0.44

1.6

109

Trichloroethylene

79016

y

n

1.4

3.0

110

Trichlorophenol 2,4,6

88062

y

n

0.23

0.24

111

Trichlorophenol, 2, 4, 5-

95954

n

n

330

360

112

Vinyl Chloride

75014

y

n

0.023

0.24

113

Zinc

7440666

n

y

2100

2600

 

 

Lori Pillsbury, 2013-07-25T13:19:00Z
Perhaps insert a reference to Table 30 here?

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:28:00Z
I suggest stating explicitly in the footnote that the values are based on regional background levels. You can add that the risk levels at background concentrations are approximately 1 x 10-5 and 1 x 10-4. I would not say 1.1 x 10-5 because this implies too much precision in the value. EPA and DEQ cleanup guidance says do not report cancer risk estimates to more than one significant digit.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:30:00Z
I would move footnotes to the end of the table, but that’s just a formatting preference.

Lori Pillsbury, 2013-07-25T13:20:00Z
I agree.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:15:00Z
We say the barium WQC of 1,000 ug/L is based on the MCL, but the MCL is 2,000 ug/L. “Based on” doesn’t necessarily mean equal to, but I wanted to call attention to this.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:18:00Z
See barium comment. I don’t see 2,4,5-TP in EPA’s AWQC or MCL tables.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:16:00Z
See barium comment. 2,4-D WQC = 100 ug/L, MCL = 70 ug/L

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:14:00Z
Chromium -- EPA does not list an AWQC because they say chromium has a more stringent MCL. Why doesn’t EPA list the MCL in the AWQC table? They do for other chemicals. To me not listing an AWQC implies that it is not toxic enough to be concerned about, but the fact that chromium has an MCL is important (even if it is outdated). EPA at least includes chromium in their table, although without a value. You might consider showing chromium with its MCL, although this would not be consistent with EPA.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:20:00Z
I obviously did not check every value, but for some reason I happened to notice that our value for endrin is not a factor of 10 lower than EPA’s value (DEQ = 0.024 ug/L v. EPA 0.060 ug/L).

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:17:00Z
See barium comment. Methoxychlor WQC = 100 ug/L, MCL = 40 ug/L.

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:28:00Z
See barium comment. Methylmercury is not exactly a factor of 10 different from EPA (DEQ = 0.04 mg/kg v. EPA 0.3 mg/kg tissue).

Michael Thomas Poulsen, 2013-07-23T11:17:00Z
See barium comment. Nitrate WQC = MCL = 10,000 ug/L.