L1354/ch07/Frame Page 205 Thursday, April 20, 2000 11:01 AM A Dictionary of Inorganic Water Quality Parameters and Pollutants* CONTENTS 7.1 7.2 Introduction Water Quality Constituents: Classified by Abundance Alphabetical Listing of Inorganic Water Quality Parameters and Pollutants Aluminum (Al) Ammonia/Ammonium Ion (NH3/NH4+) Antimony (Sb) Arsenic (As) Asbestos Barium (Ba) Beryllium (Be) Boron (B) Cadmium (Cd) Calcium (Ca) Chloride (Cl–) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Cyanide (CN–) Fluoride (F–) Iron (Fe) Lead (Pb) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Mercury (Hg) Molybdenum (Mo) Nickel (Ni) Nitrate (NO3–) Nitrite (NO2–) Selenium (Se) Silver (Ag) Sulfate (SO42–) Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Thallium (Tl) Vanadium (V) Zinc (Zn) * For EPA drinking water standards, see Appendix A For EPA aquatic life and human health criteria, see Appendix B Information in Chapter has been compiled from many different sources but particularly from the EPA World Wide Web pages Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 206 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM 7.1 INTRODUCTION This section is a concise guide to useful information about frequently measured inorganic water quality parameters and pollutants, arranged alphabetically Most of the parameters can have both natural and human origins Several are more extensively described in Chapter The information is focused chie y on human health concerns and does not address e ffects on aquatic life The EPA gives information about aquatic life effects in their Gold Book, EPA 440/5-86-001, Quality Criteria for Water Appendix B in this book tabulates aquatic life water quality criteria Where CAS identi cation numbers h ave been assigned, they are included for each entry CAS stands for Chemical Abstracts Service Registry, a division of the American Chemical Society that assigns unique identi cation numbers to each chemical compound and uses these numbers to facilitate literature and computer database searches for chemical information Although water quality components are listed alphabetically in the dictionary section, it is sometimes useful to classify them according to their typical abundance in natural waters This is done in the listing below WATER QUALITY CONSTITUENTS: CLASSIFIED BY ABUNDANCE Major chemical constituents — Those most often present in natural waters in concentrations greater than 1.0 mg/L These are the cations calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, and the anions bicarbonate/carbonate, chloride, uoride, nitrate, and sulf ate Silicon is usually present as nonionic species and is reported by analytical laboratories as the equivalent concentration of silica (SiO2) Several additional chemical parameters are sometimes included with the major constituents because of their importance in determining water quality and because some of them sometimes attain concentrations comparable to the parameters above These are aluminum, boron, iron, manganese, nitrogen in forms other than nitrate (such as ammonia and nitrite), organic carbon, phosphate, and the dissolved gases oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sul de Minor chemical constituents — Those most often present in natural waters in concentrations less than 1.0 mg/L These include the so-called trace elements and naturally occurring radioisotopes: antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bromide, cadmium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iodide, lead, lithium, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, radium, radon, rubidium, selenium, silver, strontium, thorium, titanium, uranium, vanadium, and zinc Physical and chemical properties — Quantities that not identify particular chemical species but are used as indicators of how water quality may affect water uses These are acidity, alkalinity, hardness, hydrogen ion (measured as pH), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, corrosivity, gross alpha and beta emitters, odor, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Langelier Index, speci c conductance (conducti vity), speci c gra vity, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity 7.2 ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF INORGANIC AND PHYSICAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND POLLUTANTS ALUMINUM (AL), CAS # 7429-90-5 Background Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s lithosphere (after oxygen and silicon) and its compounds are often found in natural waters Aluminum is mobilized naturally in the environment by the weathering of rocks and minerals, particularly bauxite clays It is a normal constituent of all soils and is found in low concentrations in all plant and animal tissues Most naturally occurring aluminum compounds are of very low solubility between pH to Therefore, dissolved forms rarely occur in natural waters in concentrations greater than about 0.01 mg/L Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 207 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM Concentrations in water that are greater than this usually indicate the presence of solid forms of aluminum, such as suspended solids and colloids The concentration of Al3+ in water is controlled by the solubility of aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3, which increases by a factor of about 103 for every unit decrease in pH Thus, the concentration of dissolved aluminum, Al3+, is about × 10–5 mg/L at pH 6, 0.03 mg/L at pH 5, and 30 mg/L at pH Also, at lower water pH ( 9.6, the fraction of NH3 is greater than 0.5 • At 15°C and pH < 9.6, the fraction of NH4+ is greater than 0.5 • A temperature increase shifts the equilibrium of Equation 3.16 to the left, increasing the NH3 concentration • A temperature decrease shifts the equilibrium of Equation 3.16 to the right, increasing the NH4+ concentration • An increase in ionic strength shifts the equilibrium of Equation 3.16 to the right, increasing the NH4+ concentration slightly In waters with very high total dissolved solids (>10,000 mg/L), there will be a small but measurable decrease in the percentage of NH3 • Because pH and temperature can vary considerably along a stream or within a lake, the fraction of total ammonia that is unionized is also variable at different locations Therefore, the amount of total ammonia is usually of regulatory concern, rather than only the unionized form Health Concerns Total ammonia (NH3 + NH4+) in drinking water is more of an esthetic than a health concern The odor and taste of ammonia makes drinking water unpalatable at concentrations well below the Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 209 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM appearance of any toxic effects to humans The main health concern with ammonia is its potential oxidation to nitrite (NO2–) and nitrate (NO3–) Ingested nitrate and nitrite react with iron in blood hemoglobin to cause a blood oxygen de cienc y disease called “methemoglobinemia,” which is especially dangerous in infants (blue baby syndrome) because of their small total blood volume There is no human or animal evidence of carcinogenicity Drinking Water Standards The EPA has no primary or secondary drinking water standards for ammonia However, the presence of NH3 above 0.1 mg/L may raise the suspicion of recent pollution The lifetime health advisory says that the concentration in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse effects over 70 years of exposure, with a margin of safety, is 30 mg/L Some states have adopted ammonia limits for water that will receive treatment to produce drinking water For example, Colorado’s ammonia standard for water classi ed as domestic w ater supply is 0.05 mg/L–N, 30-day average, for total ammonia (NH3 + NH4+) Rules of Thumb Only NH3, the unionized form, has signi cant toxicity for aquatic life To convert mg/L of unionized or total ammonia to mg/L as nitrogen, multiply by 0.822 For example 17.4 mg/L NH3 = 0.822 × 17.4 = 14.3 mg/L-N Since pH 9.6 is higher than the pH of most natural waters, ammonia-nitrogen in natural waters usually is mostly in the less toxic ionized ammonium form (NH4+) In high pH waters (pH > 9), the NH3 fraction can reach levels toxic to aquatic life The ionized form is not volatile and cannot be removed by air stripping The unionized form, NH3, is volatile and can be removed by air stripping ANTIMONY (SB), CAS # 1440-36-0 Background Antimony is a metalloid (having properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals) in the same chemical group (Group 5A) as arsenic, with which it has some chemical similarities, including toxicity However, it is only about one tenth as abundant in the earth’s crust and soils The symbol Sb for the element is from stibium, the Latin name for antimony In the environmental literature, antimony is often included with the metals because it is usually analyzed, along with other metals, by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or atomic absorption (AA) techniques Common sources of antimony in drinking water are discharges from petroleum re neries, re retardants, ceramics, electronics, and solder It is also found in batteries, pigments, ceramics, and glass Antimony is usually adsorbed strongly to iron, manganese, and aluminum compounds in soils and sediments Soil concentrations normally range between mg/L and mg/L The amount commonly dissolved in rivers is small, less than 0.005 mg/L There is no evidence of bioconcentration of most antimony compounds, Health Concerns Antimony is used in medicines for treating parasite infections It is present in meats, vegetables, and seafood in an average concentration of about 0.2 ppb (µg/L) to 1.1 ppb An average person ingests about µg of antimony every day in food and drink Short-term exposures above the MCL may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Potential health effects from long-term exposure above Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 210 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM the MCL are an increase in blood cholesterol and a decrease in blood glucose There is insuf cient evidence to state whether antimony has the potential to cause cancer Drinking Water Standards Maximum contaminant level goal: 0.006 mg/L Maximum contaminant level: 0.006 mg/L Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Coagulation and ltration, re verse osmosis ARSENIC (AS), CAS # 7440-38-2 Background Chemically, arsenic is classi ed as a metalloid, having properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals In the environmental literature, it is often included with the metals because it is usually analyzed, along with other metals, by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or atomic absorption (AA) techniques Inorganic arsenic occurs naturally in many minerals, especially in ores of copper and lead Smelting of these ores introduces arsenic to the atmosphere as dust particles In minerals, arsenic is combined mostly with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur Inorganic arsenic compounds are used mainly as wood preservatives, insecticides, and herbicides Organic forms of arsenic found in plants and animals are combined with carbon and hydrogen Organic arsenic is generally less toxic than inorganic arsenic Arsenic is not abundant, with an average concentration in the lithosphere of about 1.5 mg/kg (ppm) Background levels in soils typically range from to 95 mg/kg Average levels in U.S soils are around 5–7 mg/kg It is widely distributed and is found naturally in many foods at levels of 20–140 ppb, subjecting most Americans to a constant low exposure, perhaps around 50 µg per day Normal human blood contains 0.2–1.0 mg/L of arsenic; however, there is no evidence that arsenic is an essential nutrient Many arsenic compounds are water soluble and may be found in groundwater, especially in the western U.S The average concentration for U.S surface water is around ppb Groundwater levels average about 1–2 ppb, except in some western states where groundwater is in contact with volcanic rock and sul de minerals high in arsenic In western mining re gions, arsenic levels as high as 48,000 ppb have been observed Many people who are dependent on well water in the West ingest higher than average levels of inorganic arsenic through their drinking water supplies Health Concerns High levels (>60 ppm) of arsenic in food or water can be fatal Arsenic damages tissues in the nervous system, stomach, intestine, and skin Breathing high levels can irritate lungs and throat Lower levels can cause nausea, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, blood vessel damage, reduction of red and white blood cells, and tingling sensations in hands and feet Long term exposure to inorganic arsenic may cause darkening of the skin and the appearance of small warts on the palms, soles, and torso Inorganic arsenic was recognized as a possible carcinogen as early as 1879, when it was suggested that high rates of lung cancer in German miners might have been caused by inhaled arsenic Arsenic is currently considered a carcinogen Breathing inorganic arsenic increases the risk of lung cancer, and ingesting inorganic arsenic increases the risk of skin cancer and tumors of the bladder, kidney, liver, and lung A crisis of well-water contamination by arsenic was discovered in Bangladesh in 1992 The crisis was created through a well-intended effort by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide Bangladesh with reliable water sources that are free of cholera and dysentery organisms Millions of water wells were installed, and the water was tested for microbial contaminants but Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 211 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM not for arsenic and other toxic metals It is now estimated that 85% of Bangladesh’s geographical area contains wells contaminated with inorganic arsenic Tens of thousands of people now exhibit signs of arsenic poisoning The World Bank, United Nations, and other sources have begun a multimillion-dollar-effort named the Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project to supply uncontaminated water to Bangladesh’s 85,000 villages Drinking Water Standards Maximum contaminant level goal: none Maximum contaminant level: 0.05 mg/L Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Iron coprecipitation, activated alumina or carbon sorption, ion-exchange, reverse osmosis A maximum concentration of 0.1 mg/L is recommended for irrigation water and for protection of aquatic plants ASBESTOS, CAS # 1332-21-4 Background Asbestos is a generic term for different naturally formed brous silicate minerals that are classi ed into two groups, serpentine and amphibole, based on structure Six minerals have been characterized as asbestos: chrysotile, crosidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and andamosite The most common form is chrysotile, which is a member of the serpentine group The others belong to the amphibole group These different forms of asbestos are composed of 40–60% silica, the remainder being oxides of iron, magnesium, and other metals The EPA banned most uses of asbestos in the U.S on July 12, 1989 because of potential adverse health effects in exposed persons Although asbestos may be introduced into the environment by the dissolution of asbestoscontaining minerals and from industrial ef uents, the primary source is through the wear or breakdown of asbestos-containing materials Because asbestos bers are resistant to heat and most chemicals, they have been mined for use in over 3000 different products in the U.S., such as roo ng materials, brake linings, asbestos-reinforced pipe, packing seals, gaskets, re-resistant te xtiles, and oor tiles The remaining currently allowed uses of asbestos include battery separators, sealant tape, asbestos thread, packing materials, and certain industrial uses of gaskets Typical background levels in lakes and streams range from to 10 million bers/L Asbestos is insoluble, nonvolatile, and nonbiodegradable and does not tend to adsorb to stream sediments Asbestos bers not chemically decompose to other compounds in the en vironment and, therefore, can remain in the environment for decades or longer Small asbestos bers and ber -containing particles may be carried for long distances by water currents before settling out Larger bers and particles tend to settle more quickly Asbestos bers not pass through soils to groundw ater There are no data regarding the bioaccumulation of asbestos in aquatic organisms, but asbestos is not expected to bioaccumulate Ordinary sand ltration remo ves about 90% of the bers Health Concerns There are no reliable data available on the acute toxic effects from short-term exposures to asbestos Long-term inhalation has the potential to cause cancer of the lung and other internal organs Longterm ingestion above the MCL increases the risk of developing benign intestinal polyps Drinking Water Standards Maximum contaminant level goal: million bers per liter (MFL) for bers > 10 microns in length Maximum contaminant level: million bers per liter (MFL) Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 212 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Coagulation and ltration, direct and diatomite ltration, corrosion control BARIUM (BA), CAS # 7440-39-3 Background Barium is the sixth most abundant element in the lithosphere, averaging about 500 mg/kg It exists mainly as the sulfate (BaSO4, barite) and, to a lesser extent, the carbonate (BaCO3, witherite) Traces of barium are found in most soils, natural waters, and foods Background levels for soils range between 100 and 3000 mg/kg, with an average of 500 mg/kg Although most groundwaters contain only a trace of barium, some geothermal groundwaters may contain as much as 10 mg/L Barium is released to water and soil in the disposal of drilling wastes, from copper smelting, and industrial waste streams It is not very mobile in most soil systems In water, the more toxic soluble salts are likely to precipitate as the less toxic insoluble sulfate and carbonate compounds Background levels for soil range from 100 to 3000 ppm Barium occurs naturally in almost all surface waters examined in concentrations of 2–340 µg/L, with an average of 43 µg/L In surface water and most groundwater, only traces of the element are present However, some wells may contain barium levels 10 times higher than the drinking water standard Marine animals concentrate the element 7–100 times, and marine plants concentrate it 1000 times from seawater Soybeans and tomatoes also accumulate soil barium 2–20 times Health Concerns There is no evidence that barium is an essential nutrient All soluble barium salts are considered toxic Short-term exposure at levels above the MCL may cause gastrointestinal disturbances, muscular weakness, and liver, kidney, heart, and spleen damage Long-term exposure above the MCL may cause hypertension There is no evidence that barium can cause cancer No health advisories have been established for short-term exposures Drinking Water Standards Maximum contaminant level goal: mg/L Maximum contaminant level: mg/L Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Ion-exchange, reverse osmosis, lime softening, electrodialysis BERYLLIUM (BE), CAS # 7440-41-7 Background Beryllium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other elements and in some precious stones such as emeralds and aquamarine Beryllium is not likely to be found in natural waters above trace levels due to the insolubility of oxides and hydroxides at normal environmental pHs It has been reported to occur in U.S drinking water at 0.01 to 0.7 µg/L A major use of beryllium is as an alloy hardener Its greatest use is in making metal alloys for nuclear reactors and the aerospace industry It is also used as an alloy and oxide in electrical Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 213 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM equipment and electronic components in military vehicle armor The chloride is used as a catalyst and intermediate in chemical manufacture The oxide is used in glass and ceramic manufacture Beryllium enters the environment principally as dust from burning coal and oil and from the slag and ash dumps of coal combustion Some tobacco leaves contain signi cant le vels of beryllium, which can enter the lungs of those exposed to tobacco smoke It is also found in discharges from other industrial and municipal operations Rocket exhausts contain oxide, uoride, and chloride compounds of beryllium Very little is known about what happens to beryllium compounds when released to the environment Beryllium compounds of very low water solubility appear to predominate in soils Leaching and transport through soils to groundwater is unlikely to be of concern Erosion or runoff of beryllium compounds into surface waters is not likely, and it appears unlikely to leach to groundwater when released to land Erosion and bulk transport of soil may carry beryllium sorbed to soils into surface waters, but most likely in particulate rather than dissolved form Health Effects Beryllium is more toxic when inhaled as ne particles than when ingested orally Short-term air exposure can cause in ammation (chemical pneumonitis) of the lungs when inhaled Some people develop a sensitivity, or allergy, to inhaled beryllium, leading to chronic beryllium disease Long-term ingestion in water above the MCL may lead to intestinal lesions There is some evidence that beryllium may cause cancer from lifetime exposures at levels above the MCL Drinking Water Standards Maximum contaminant level goal: 0.004 mg/L Maximum contaminant level: 0.004 mg/L Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Activated alumina, coagulation and ltration, ion-e xchange, lime softening, reverse osmosis BORON (B), CAS # 7440-42-8 Background Boron is usually found in nature as the hydrated sodium borate salt kernite (Na2B4O7·4H2O) or the calcium borate salt colemanite (Ca2B6O11·5H2O) Most environmentally important boron compounds are highly water-soluble Natural weathering of boron-containing minerals is a major source of boron in certain geographical locations In the U.S., the minerals richest in boron are found in the Mojave Desert region of California, where concentrations above 300 mg/L have been observed in boron-rich lakes In other U.S surface waters, an average boron level is around 100 µg/L, but concentrations vary widely (from around 0.02 to 0.3 mg/L), depending on local geologic and industrial conditions Background soil levels in the U.S range up to 300 mg/kg, with an average of around 26 mg/kg Sodium tetraborate (kernite) is also known as borax and nds use as an additi ve in detergents and other cleaning agents A major use for boron is the manufacture of borosilicate glass which, because of its low coef cient of thermal e xpansion, is used in ovenware, laboratory glassware, piping, and sealed-beam headlights Boric acid (H3BO3) is used as a weak antiseptic and eye-wash and as a “natural” insecticide Other uses for boron compounds include re retardants, leather tanning, pulp and paper whitening agents, and high-energy rocket fuels Elemental boron is used for neutron absorption in nuclear reactors and in alloys with copper, aluminum, and steel For these Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/ch07/Frame Page 214 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 1:51 AM reasons, boron is common in sewage and industrial wastes Ef uent from municipal sewage treatment plants may contain up to mg/L of boron, with an average of mg/L in California Boron is essential to plant growth in very small amounts but may become toxic at higher amounts For boron-sensitive plants, the toxic level may be as low as mg/L A maximum level of 0.75 mg/L in soil and irrigation water is generally accepted as protective for sensitive plants under long-term irrigation Boron is not known to be an essential nutrient for animals or humans Boron mobility in water is greatest at pH < 7.5 Adsorption to soils and sediments is the main mechanism for removal from environmental waters Sorption to oxide and hydroxide solids, particularly aluminum species, is enhanced above pH 7.5 and in the presence of Ca and Mg There is no evidence that boron is bioconcentrated signi cantly by aquatic or ganisms, and naturally occurring levels of boron not appear to have an adverse effect on aquatic life It is sometimes suggested that boron concentrations in discharges to fresh waters be limited to 10 mg/L Health Concerns Moderately high doses of boron compounds appear to have little detrimental health effects The lethal dose of boric acid for adults varies from 15 to 20 g Chronic ingestion may cause dry skin, skin eruptions, and gastric disturbances Drinking Water Standards In general, boron in drinking water is not regarded as hazardous to human health, and there are no drinking primary or secondary drinking water standards Other Comments Treatment/best available technologies: Because most boron compounds are highly water soluble, boron is not signi cantly removed by conventional wastewater treatment Boron may be coprecipitated with aluminum, silicon, or iron solids CADMIUM (CD), CAS # 7440-43-9 Background Cadmium is usually present in all soils and rocks It occurs naturally in zinc, lead, and copper ores, in coal, and other fossil fuels and shales It often is released during volcanic action These deposits can serve as sources to groundwaters and surface waters, especially when they are in contact with soft, acidic waters The adsorption of cadmium onto soils and silicon or aluminum oxides is strongly pH-dependent, increasing as conditions become more alkaline When the pH is below 6–7, cadmium is desorbed from these materials The oxide and sul de compounds are relati vely insoluble, while the chloride and sulfate salts are soluble Soluble cadmium compounds have the potential to leach through soils to groundwater Average concentrations of cadmium in U.S waters is about 0.001 mg/L Cadmium concentrations in bed sediments are generally at least 10 times higher than in overlying water Cadmium for industrial use is extracted during the production of other metals, chie y zinc, lead, and copper It is used for batteries, alloys, pigments, metal protective coatings, and as a stabilizer in plastics It enters the environment mostly from industrial and domestic wastes, especially those associated with nonferrous mining, smelting, and municipal waste dumps Because cadmium is chemically similar to zinc, an essential nutrient for plants and animals, it is readily assimilated into the food chain Plants absorb cadmium from irrigation water Low levels exist in all foods, highest in shell sh, liver, and kidney meats Smoking can double the average daily intake; one cigarette typically contains to µg of cadmium The recommended upper limit in irrigation water is 0.01 mg/L Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC Fresh Water Priority Pollutant 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 3,3′-Dichlorobenzidine DiethylphthalateW Dimethylphthalate Di-n-Butylphthalate 2,4-Dinitrotoluene 2,6-Dinitrotoluene Di-n-Octylphthalate 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine Fluoranthene Fluorene Hexachlorobenzene Hexachlorobutadiene Hexachlorocyclopentadiene Hexachloroethane Ideno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene Isophorone Naphthalene Nitrobenzene N-Nitrosodimethylamine N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine N-Nitrosodiphenylamine Phenanthrene CAS Number 95501 541731 106467 91941 84662 131113 84742 121142 606202 117840 122667 206440 86737 118741 87683 77474 67721 193395 78591 91203 98953 62759 621647 86306 85018 Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC Salt Water Human Health for Consumption of CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) Water + Organism (µg/L) Organism Only (µg/L)) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2,700 B,Z 400 400 Z 0.04 B,C 23,000 B 313,000 2700 B — — — 0.040 B,C 300 B 1300 B 0.00075 B,C 0.44 B,C 240 B,U,Z 1.9 B,C 0.0044 B,C 36 B,C — 17 B 0.00069 B,C 0.005 B,C 5.0 B,C — 17,000 B,Z 2600 2600 0.077 B,C 120,000 B 2,900,000 12,000 B — — — 0.54 B,C 370 B 14,000 B 0.00077 B,C 50 B,C 17,000 B,H,U 8.9 B,C 0.049 B,C 2600 B,C — 1900 B,H,U 8.1 B,C 1.4 B,C 16 B,C — L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 251 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Priority Toxic Pollutants Fresh Water Salt Water Human Health for Consumption of Priority Pollutant 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 CAS Number CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) Water + Organism (µg/L) Organism Only (µg/L)) Pyrene 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Aldrin alpha-BHC beta-BHC gamma-BHC (Lindane) delta-BHC Chlordane 4,4′-DDT 4,4′-DDE 4,4′-DDD Dieldrin alpha-Endosulfan beta-Endosulfan Endosulfan sulfate Endrin Endrinaldehyde Heptachlor Heptachlor epoxide Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Toxaphene 129000 120821 309002 319846 319857 58899 319868 57749 50293 72559 72548 60571 959988 33213659 1031078 72208 7421934 76448 1024573 — 8001352 — — 3.0 G — — — — 2.4 G 1.1 G — — 0.24 K 0.22 G,Y 0.22 G,Y — 0.086 K — 0.52 G 0.52 G,V — 0.73 — — — — — — — 0.0043 G,AA 0.001 G,AA — — 0.056 K,O 0.056 G,Y 0.056 G,Y — 0.036 K,O — 0.0038 G,AA 0.0038 G,AA 0.014 N,AA 0.0002 AA — — 1.3 G — — — — 0.09 G 0.13 G — — 0.71 G 0.034 G,Y 0.034 G,Y — 0.037 G — 0.053 G 0.053 G,V — 0.21 — — — — — — — 0.004 G,AA 0.001 G,AA — — 0.0019 G,AA 0.0087 G,Y 0.0087 G,Y — 0.0023 G,AA — 0.0036 G,AA 0.0036 G,V,AA 0.03 N,AA 0.0002 AA 960 B 260 Z 0.00013 B,C 0.0039 B,C 0.014 B,C 0.019 C — 0.0021 B,C 0.00059 B,C 0.00059 B,C 0.00083 B,C 0.00014 B,C 110 B 110 B 110 B 0.76 B 0.76 B 0.00021 B,C 0.00010 B,C 0.00017 B,C,P 0.00073 B,C 11,000 B 940 0.00014 B,C 0.013 B,C 0.046 B,C 0.063 C — 0.0022 B,C 0.00059 B,C 0.00059 B,C 0.00084 B,C 0.00014 B,C 240 B 240 B 240 B 0.81 B 0.81 B 0.00021 B,C 0.00011 B,C 0.00017 B,C,P 0.00075 B,C A This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for arsenic (III) but is applied here to total arsenic, which might imply that arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) are equally toxic to aquatic life and that their toxicities are additive In the arsenic criteria document (EPA 440/5-84-033, January 1985), Species Mean Acute Values are given for both arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) for five species, and the ratios of the SMAVs for each species range from 0.6 to 1.7 Chronic values are available for both arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) for one species; for the fathead minnow, the chronic value for arsenic (V) is 0.29 times the chronic value for arsenic (III) No data are available concerning whether the toxicities of the forms of arsenic to aquatic organisms are additive Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 252 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Priority Toxic Pollutants B This criterion has been revised to reflect The Environmental Protection Agency’s q1* or RfD, as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as of April 8, 1998 The fish tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) from the 1980 Ambient Water Quality Criteria document was retained in each case C This criterion is based on carcinogenicity of 10–6 risk Alternative risk levels may be obtained by moving the decimal point (for example, for a risk level of 10–5, move the decimal point in the recommended criterion one place to the right) D Freshwater and saltwater criteria for metals are expressed in terms of the dissolved metal in the water column The recommended water quality criteria value was calculated by using the previous 304(a) aquatic life criteria expressed in terms of total recoverable metal, and multiplying it by a conversion factor (CF) The term CF represents the recommended conversion factor for converting a metal criterion expressed as the total recoverable fraction in the water column to a criterion expressed as the dissolved fraction in the water column (Conversion factors for saltwater CCCs are not currently available Conversion factors derived for saltwater CMCs have been used for both saltwater CMCs and CCCs.) See “Office of Water Policy and Technical Guidance on Interpretation and Implementation of Aquatic Life Metals Criteria,” October 1, 1993, by Martha G Prothro, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, available from the Water Resource Center, USEPA, 401 M St., SW, mail code RC4100, Washington, DC 20460; and 40CFR §131.36(b)(1) Conversion factors applied in the table can be found in Appendix A to the Preamble-Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals E The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column The value given here corresponds to a hardness of 100 mg/L Criteria values for other hardness may be calculated from the following: CMC (dissolved) = exp{mA [ln(hardness)]+ bA}(CF), or CCC (dissolved) = exp{mC [ln(hardness)]+ bC}(CF) and the parameters specified in Appendix B to the Preamble-Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria that Are Hardness-Dependent F Freshwater aquatic life values for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH and are calculated as follows: CMC = exp(1.005(pH) – 4.869); CCC = exp(1.005(pH) – 5.134) Values displayed in the table correspond to a pH of 7.8 G This criterion is based on 304(a) aquatic life criterion issued in 1980 and was issued in one of the following documents: Aldrin/Dieldrin (EPA 440/5-80-019), Chlordane (EPA 440/5-80-027), DDT (EPA 440/5-80-038), Endosulfan (EPA 440/5-80-046), Endrin (EPA 440/5-80-047), Heptachlor (440/5-80-052), Hexachlorocyclohexane (EPA 440/5-80-054), Silver (EPA 440/5-80-071) The minimum data requirements and derivation procedures were different in the 1980 guidelines than in the 1985 guidelines For example, a “CMC” derived using the 1980 Guidelines was derived to be used as an instantaneous maximum If assessment is to be done using an averaging period, the values given should be divided by to obtain a value that is more comparable to a CMC derived using the 1985 guidelines H No criterion for protection of human health from consumption of aquatic organisms excluding water was presented in the 1980 criteria document or in the 1986 Quality Criteria for Water Nevertheless, sufficient information was presented in the 1980 document to allow the calculation of a criterion, even though the results of such a calculation were not shown in the document I This criterion for asbestos is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 253 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Priority Toxic Pollutants J EPA has not calculated a human health criterion for this contaminant However, permit authorities should address this contaminant in NPDES permit actions using the state’s existing narrative criteria for toxics K This recommended criterion is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was issued in the 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water, (EPA 820-B-96-001, September 1996) This value was derived using the GLI Guidelines (60FR15393-15399, March 23, 1995; 40CFR132 Appendix A); the difference between the 1985 guidelines and the GLI guidelines are explained on page iv of the 1995 updates None of the decisions concerning the derivation of this criterion were affected by any considerations that are specific to the Great Lakes L The CMC = 1/[(f1/CMC1) + (f2/CMC2)] where f1 and f2 are the fractions of total selenium that are treated as selenite and selenate, respectively, and CMC1 and CMC2 are 185.9 µg/L and 12.83 µg/L, respectively M EPA is currently reassessing the criteria for arsenic Upon completion of the reassessment the agency will publish revised criteria as appropriate N PCBs are a class of chemicals which includes aroclors 1242, 1254, 1221, 1232, 1248, 1260, and 1016 (CAS numbers 53469219, 11097691, 11104282, 11141165, 12672296, 11096825 and 12674112 respectively) The aquatic life criteria apply to this set of PCBs O The derivation of the CCC for this pollutant did not consider exposure through the diet, which is probably important for aquatic life occupying upper trophic levels P This criterion applies to total PCBs, i.e., the sum of all congener or isomer analyses Q This recommended water quality criterion is expressed as µg free cyanide (as CN)/L R This value was announced (61FR58444-58449, November 14, 1996) as a proposed GLI 303(c) aquatic life criterion The EPA is currently working on this criterion; therefore, this value might change substantially in the near future S This recommended water quality criterion refers to the inorganic form only T This recommended water quality criterion is expressed in terms of total recoverable metal in the water column It is scientifically acceptable to use the conversion factor of 0.922 that was used in the GLI to convert this to a value that is expressed in terms of dissolved metal U The organoleptic effect criterion is more stringent than the value for priority toxic pollutants V This value was derived from data for heptachlor, and the criteria document provides insufficient data to estimate the relative toxicities of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide W Although the EPA has not published a final criteria document for this compound, it is the EPA’s understanding that sufficient data exist to allow calculation of aquatic criteria It is anticipated that the industry intends to publish in the peer reviewed literature draft aquatic life criteria generated in accordance with EPA guidelines The EPA will review such criteria for possible issuance as national WQC Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 254 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Priority Toxic Pollutants X There is a full set of aquatic life toxicity data that show that DEHP is not toxic to aquatic organisms at or below its solubility limit Y This value was derived from data for endosulfan and is most appropriately applied to the sum of alpha-endosulfan and beta-endosulfan Z A more stringent MCL has been issued by the EPA Refer to drinking water regulations (40 CFR 141) or safe drinking water hotline (1-800-426-4791) for values AA This CCC is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 guidelines Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60FR15393-15399, March 23, 1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria BB This water quality criterion is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was derived using the 1985 guidelines (Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, PB85-227049, January 1985) and was issued in one of the following criteria documents: Arsenic (EPA 440/5-84-033), Cadmium (EPA 440/5-84-032), Chromium (EPA 440/5-84-029), Copper (EPA 440/5-84-031), Cyanide (EPA 440/5-84028), Lead (EPA 440/5-84-027), Nickel (EPA 440/5-86-004), Pentachlorophenol (EPA 440/5-86-009), Toxaphene, (EPA 440/5-86-006), Zinc (EPA 440/5-87- 003) CC When the concentration of dissolved organic carbon is elevated, copper is substantially less toxic, and use of Water-Effect Ratios might be appropriate DD The selenium criteria document (EPA 440/5-87-006, September 1987) provides that, if selenium is as toxic to saltwater fishes in the field as it is to freshwater fishes in the field, the status of the fish community should be monitored whenever the concentration of selenium exceeds 5.0 µg/L in salt water because the saltwater CCC does not take into account uptake via the food chain EE This recommended water quality criterion was derived on page 43 of the mercury criteria document (EPA 440/5-84-026, January 1985) The saltwater CCC of 0.025 µg/L given on page 23 of the criteria document is based on the Final Residue Value procedure in the 1985 guidelines Since the publication of the Great Lakes Aquatic Life Criteria Guidelines in 1995 (60FR15393-15399, March 23, 1995), the Agency no longer uses the Final Residue Value procedure for deriving CCCs for new or revised 304(a) aquatic life criteria FF This recommended water quality criterion was derived in Ambient Water Quality Criteria Saltwater Copper Addendum (Draft, April 14, 1995) and was promulgated in the Interim Final National Toxics Rule (60FR22228-222237, May 4, 1995) GG EPA is actively working on this criterion; therefore, this recommended water quality criterion may change substantially in the near future HH This recommended water quality criterion was derived from data for inorganic mercury (II) but is applied here to total mercury If a substantial portion of the mercury in the water column is methylmercury, this criterion will probably be under-protective In addition, even though inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury and methylmercury bioaccumulates to a great extent, this criterion does not account for uptake via the food chain because sufficient data were not available when the criterion was derived Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 255 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Priority Toxic Pollutants Fresh Water Nonpriority Pollutant Alkalinity Aluminum (pH 6.5–9.0) Ammonia 10 Aesthetic qualities Bacteria Barium Boron Chloride Chlorine Chlorophenoxy herbicide 2,4,5-TP Chlorophenoxy herbicide 2,4-D Chloropyrifos Color Demeton bis(chloromethyl)Ether Gases, total dissolved Guthion Hardness Hexachlorocyclohexane (technical) Iron Malathion 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC CAS Number — 7429905 7664417 — — 7440393 7440428 16887006 7782505 93721 94757 2921882 — 8065483 542881 — 86500 — 319868 7439896 121755 CMC (µg/L) Human Health for Consumption of Salt Water CCC (µg/L) CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) Water + Organism (µg/L) Organism Only (µg/L)) — — D — — 1,000 A — — C 10 A — — — — 100 A,C — 0.0056 G — — 0.00078 E 0.01 F — F — 0.00013 E F — — — 0.1 F 0.0123 300 A — 0.0414 — — — 20,000 F — — 750 G,I 87 G,I,L — — Freshwater criteria are pH dependent, see EPA 822-R-98-008 Saltwater criteria are pH and temperature dependent, see EPA 440/5-88-004 Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* For primary recreation and shellfish uses, see Gold Book.* — — — — Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* 860,000 G 230,000 G — — 19 11 13 7.5 — — — — — 0.083 G — — — — — — — — 0.041 G 0.011 G Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* 0.1 F — — — Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* 0.01 F — Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* — — — — 0.1 F — 0.1 F — — L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 256 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE Water Quality Criteria: Nonpriority Toxic Pollutants Fresh Water Nonpriority Pollutant 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 CAS Number CMC (µg/L) Manganese Methoxychlor Mirex Nitrates Nitrosamines Dinitrophenols N-Nitrosodibutylamine N-Nitrosodiethylamine N-Nitrosopyrrolidine Oil and Grease Oxygen, dissolved Parathion Pentachlorobenzene pH Phosphorus, elemental Phosphorus, phosphate Solids, dissolved (and salinity) Solids, suspended (and turbidity) Sulfide, hydrogen sulfide Tainting substances Temperature 1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene Tributyltin (TBT) 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 7439965 72435 2385855 14797558 — 25550587 924163 55185 930552 — 7782447 56382 608935 — 7723140 — — — 7783064 — — 95943 — 95954 — — — — — — — — — Copyright â 2000 CRC Press, LLC CCC (àg/L) Salt Water CMC (µg/L) CCC (µg/L) — — — 0.03 F — 0.03 F 0.001 F — 0.001 F — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* Warmwater and coldwater matrix, see Gold Book.* 0.065 J 0.013 J — — — — — — — 6.5–9 F — 6.5–8.5 F,K — — — 0.1 F,K Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* — — — — Species dependent criteria, see Gold Book.* — 2.0 F — 2.0 F Narrative statement, see Gold Book.* Species dependent criteria, see Gold Book.* — — — — 0.46 N 0.063 N 0.37 N 0.010 N — — — — Human Health for Consumption of Water + Organism (µg/L) Organism Only (µg/L)) 50 A 100 A,C — 10,000 A 0.0008 70 0.0064 A 0.0008 A 0.016 F O — 3.5 E 5–9 — 100 A — — — 1.24 14,000 0.587 A 1.24 A 91.9 — 4.1 E — — 250,000 A F — — 2.3 E — 2,600 B,E 2.9 E — 9,800 B,E L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 257 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Nonpriority Toxic Pollutants A This human health criterion is the same as originally published in the Red Book which predates the 1980 methodology and did not utilize the fish ingestion BCF approach This same criterion value is now published in the Gold Book.* B The organoleptic effect criterion is more stringent than the value presented in the nonpriority pollutants table C A more stringent maximum contaminant level (MCL) has been issued by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act Refer to drinking water regulations 4OCFR141 or the safe drinking water hotline (1-800-426-4791) for values D According to the procedures described in the Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses — except possibly where a very sensitive species is important at a site — freshwater aquatic life should be protected if both conditions specified in Appendix C to the Preamble-Calculation of Freshwater Ammonia Criterion are satisfied E This criterion has been revised to reflect The Environmental Protection Agency’s q1* or RfD, as contained in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) as of April 8, 1998 The fish tissue bioconcentration factor (BCF) used to derive the original criterion was retained in each case F The derivation of this value is presented in the Red Book (EPA 440/9-76-023, July, 1976) G This value is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was derived using the 1985 guidelines (Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, PB85-227049, January 1985) and was issued in one of the following criteria documents: Aluminum (EPA 440/5-86-008); Chloride (EPA 440/5-88-001); Chloropyrifos (EPA 440/5-86-005) I This value is expressed in terms of total recoverable metal in the water column J This value is based on a 304(a) aquatic life criterion that was issued in the 1995 Updates: Water Quality Criteria Documents for the Protection of Aquatic Life in Ambient Water (EPA-820-B-96-001) This value was derived using the GLI Guidelines (60FR15393-15399, March 23, 1995; 40CFR132 Appendix A); the differences between the 1985 guidelines and the GLI guidelines are explained on page iv of the 1995 updates No decision concerning this criterion was affected by any considerations that are specific to the Great Lakes K According to page 181 of the Red Book, “For open ocean waters where the depth is substantially greater than the euphotic zone, the pH should not be changed more than 0.2 units from the naturally occurring variation or any case outside the range of 6.5 to 8.5 For shallow, highly productive coastal and estuarine areas where naturally occurring pH variations approach the lethal limits of some species, changes in pH should be avoided but in any case should not exceed the limits established for fresh water, i.e., 6.5–9.0.” Copyright © 2000 CRC Press, LLC L1354/Appendix B/Frame Page 258 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:59 AM TABLE (continued) Water Quality Criteria: Nonpriority Toxic Pollutants L There are three major reasons why the use of Water-Effect Ratios might be appropriate (1) The value of 87 µg/L is based on a toxicity test with the striped bass in water with pH = 6.5-6.6 and hardness l2, cool at 4°C in dark Add 100 mg Na2S2O3/L None required Add HNO3 to pH