25 Pa. Code § 93.8c – Human health and aquatic life criteria for toxic substances.

(a) Table 5 (relating to water quality criteria for toxic substances) and the table of site-specific criteria maintained by the Department list the aquatic life and human health criteria for toxic substances which the Department uses in development of effluent limitations in NPDES Permits and for other purposes. The human health criteria, which include probable modes of exposure (such as but not limited to ingestion from drinking water and fish consumption, inhalation and dermal absorption), are further defined as to the specific effect (that is, cancer or threshold health effects). For those aquatic life criteria which are a function of local water quality conditions and are specified as a formula, such as several of the heavy metals, the values used for the local water quality condition to derive the appropriate water quality criteria shall be determined by instream measurements or best estimates based on reference waters that are representative of the median concentrations or conditions of the receiving water for the applicable time period and design conditions. Instream measurements for the water quality condition will be gathered using Department data collection protocols. The priority pollutants are a set of specific chemical pollutants regulated by the EPA. The priority pollutant numbers (PP NO) used by the EPA to identify priority pollutants are included in Table 5 for reference purposes. The toxics without a PP NO are nonpriority pollutants or State-derived criteria.
(b) Some of these criteria may be superseded for the Delaware Estuary, Ohio River Basin, Lake Erie Basin and Genesee River Basin under interstate and international compact agreements with the Delaware River Basin Commission, Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission and International Joint Commission, respectively. Water quality criteria for the Great Lakes System are contained in § 93.8e (relating to special criteria for the Great Lakes System) and Table 6 (relating to Great Lakes aquatic life and human health criteria). Criteria in Table 5 may apply to the Great Lakes System for those substances not listed in Table 6. Criteria may be developed for the Great Lakes System for substances other than those listed in Tables 5 and 6, under the methodologies in § 16.61 (relating to special provisions for the Great Lakes system).

(c) Unless otherwise specified in this section, the aquatic life criteria in Table 5 have the following duration periods:

(1) One-hour average for criteria maximum concentrations.

(2) Four-day average for criteria continuous concentrations.

PP	Chemical Name	CAS Number	Fish and Aquatic Life Criteria	Human Health Criteria	Notes
NO	Criteria Continuous	Criteria Maximum
		Concentration (µg/L)	Concentration (µg/L)	(µg/L)
1M	ANTIMONY	7440360	220	1100	5.6	2,5
2M	ARSENIC	7440382	150 (As3+)	340 (As3+)	10	2
3M	BERYLLIUM	7440417	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
4M	CADMIUM	7440439	{1.101672-(ln[H]x0.041838)}x	{1.136672-(ln[H]x0.041838)}x	N/A	3
			Exp(0.7977xln[H]-3.909)	Exp(0.9789xln[H]-3.866)
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=0.72)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=1.8)
			(ex: @H=50, CCC=0.43)	(ex: @H=50, CMC=0.94)
			(ex: @H=25, CCC=0.25)	(ex: @H=25, CMC=0.49)
5M	CHROMIUM III	16065831	0.860xExp(0.819xln[H]+0.6848)	0.316xExp(0.819xln[H]+3.7256)	N/A	3
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=74)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=570)
5M	CHROMIUM VI	18540299	11	16	N/A	3
6M	COPPER	7440508	0.960xExp(0.8545xln[H]-1.702)	0.960xExp(0.9422xln[H]-1.700)	N/A	3
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=9.0)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=13)
7M	LEAD	7439921	{1.46203-(ln[H]x0.145712)}x	{(1.46203-(ln[H]x0.145712)}x	N/A	3
			Exp(1.273xln[H]-4.705)	Exp(1.273xln[H]-1.460)
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=2.5)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=65)
8M	MERCURY	7439976	0.77 (Hg2+)	1.4 (Hg2+)	0.05	2,3
9M	NICKEL	7440020	0.997xExp(0.846xln[H]+0.0584)	0.998xExp(0.846xln[H]+2.255)	610	2,3,5
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=52)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=470)
10M	SELENIUM	7782492	4.6	N/A	N/A	3
11M	SILVER	7440224	N/A	0.850xExp(1.72xln[H]-6.590)	N/A	3
				(ex: @H=100, CMC=3.2)
12M	THALLIUM	7440280	13	65	0.24	2,5
13M	ZINC	7440666	0.986xExp(0.8473xln[H]+0.884)	0.978xExp(0.8473xln[H]+0.884)	N/A	3
			(ex: @H=100, CCC=120)	(ex: @H=100, CMC=120)
14M	CYANIDE, FREE	57125	5.2	22	4	2
1A	2-CHLOROPHENOL	95578	110	560	30	2
2A	2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL	120832	340	1700	10	2
3A	2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL	105679	130	660	100	2
4A	4,6-DINITRO-o-CRESOL (2 METHYL-4,6-DINITROPHENOL)	534521	16	80	2	2
5A	2,4-DINITROPHENOL	51285	130	660	10	2
E	DINITROPHENOLS	25550587	N/A	N/A	10	2
6A	2-NITROPHENOL	88755	1600	8000	N/A	-
7A	4-NITROPHENOL	100027	470	2300	N/A	-
8A	P-CHLORO-m-CRESOL	59507	30	160	500	2
(3 METHYL-4-CHLOROPHENOL)
9A	PENTACHLOROPHENOL	87865	Exp(1.005x[pH]-5.134)	Exp(1.005x[pH]-4.869)	0.03	1
			@pH=6.5 7.8 9.0	@pH=6.5 7.8 9.0
			Crit=4.1 15 50	Crit=5.3 19 65
10A	PHENOL	108952	N/A	N/A	4000	2
E	2,4,5-TRICHLOROPHENOL	95954	N/A	N/A	300	2
11A	2,4,6-TRICHLOROPHENOL	88062	91	460	1.5	1
1V	ACROLEIN	107028	3.0	3.0	3	2
2V	ACRYLONITRILE	107131	130	650	0.06	1
3V	BENZENE	71432	130	640	0.58	1
5V	BROMOFORM	75252	370	1800	7	1
6V	CARBON TETRACHLORIDE	56235	560	2800	0.4	1
7V	CHLOROBENZENE	108907	240	1200	100	2
8V	CHLORODIBROMOMETHANE	124481	N/A	N/A	0.8	1
9V	CHLOROETHANE	75003	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
10V	2-CHLOROETHYL VINYL ETHER	110758	3500	18000	N/A	-
11V	CHLOROFORM	67663	390	1900	60	2
12V	DICHLOROBROMOMETHANE	75274	N/A	N/A	0.95	1
14V	1,1-DICHLOROETHANE	75343	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
15V	1,2-DICHLOROETHANE	107062	3100	15000	9.9	1
16V	1,1-DICHLOROETHYLENE	75354	1500	7500	33	2
17V	1,2-DICHLOROPROPANE	78875	2200	11000	0.9	1
18V	1,3-DICHLOROPROPENE	542756	61	310	0.27	1
19V	ETHYLBENZENE	100414	580	2900	68	2
20V	METHYL BROMIDE	74839	110	550	100	2
21V	METHYL CHLORIDE	74873	5500	28000	N/A	-
22V	METHYLENE CHLORIDE	75092	2400	12000	20	1
23V	1,1,2,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE	79345	210	1000	0.2	1
24V	TETRACHLORO-	127184	140	700	10	1
ETHYLENE
25V	TOLUENE	108883	330	1700	57	2
26V	trans-1,2-DICHLOROETHYLENE	156605	1400	6800	100	2
D	1,2 cis-DICHLORO-	156592	N/A	N/A	12	2
ETHYLENE
27V	1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE	71556	610	3000	10000	2
28V	1,1,2-TRICHLOROETHANE	79005	680	3400	0.55	1
29V	TRICHLOROETHYLENE	79016	450	2300	0.6	1
31V	VINYL CHLORIDE	75014	N/A	N/A	0.02	1
1B	ACENAPHTHENE	83329	17	83	70	2
2B	ACENAPHTHYLENE	208968	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
3B	ANTHRACENE	120127	N/A	N/A	300	2
4B	BENZIDINE	92875	59	300	0.0001	1
5B	BENZO(a)-ANTHRACENE	56553	0.1	0.5	0.001	1
6B	BENZO(a)PYRENE	50328	N/A	N/A	0.0001	1
7B	3,4-BENZO-FLUOR-	205992	N/A	N/A	0.001	1
ANTHENE (BENZO(b)FLUORANTHENE)
8B	BENZO(ghi)-PERYLENE	191242	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
9B	BENZO(k)-FLUORANTHENE	207089	N/A	N/A	0.01	1
E	BIS(CHLOROMETHYL)-	542881	N/A	N/A	0.0002	1
ETHER
10B	BIS(2-CHLOROETHOXY)-	111911	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
METHANE
11B	BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL)-	111444	6000	30000	0.03	1
ETHER
12B	BIS(2-CHLORO-1-METHYLETHYL) ETHER	108601	N/A	N/A	200	2
13B	BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)-	117817	910	4500	0.32	1
PHTHALATE
14B	4-BROMOPHENYL PHENYL ETHER	101553	54	270	N/A	-
15B	BUTYLBENZYL PHTHA-	85687	35	140	0.1	2
LATE
16B	2-CHLORONAPHTHALENE	91587	N/A	N/A	800	2
17B	4-CHLOROPHENYL	7005723	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
PHENYL ETHER
18B	CHRYSENE	218019	N/A	N/A	0.12	1
19B	DIBENZO(a,h)ANTHRACENE	53703	N/A	N/A	0.0001	1
20B	1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE	95501	160	820	1000	2
21B	1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE	541731	69	350	7	2
22B	1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE	106467	150	730	300	2
23B	3,3-DICHLOROBENZIDINE	91941	N/A	N/A	0.05	1
24B	DIETHYL PHTHALATE	84662	800	4000	600	2
25B	DIMETHYL PHTHALATE	131113	500	2500	2000	2
26B	DI-N-BUTYL PHTHALATE	84742	21	110	20	2
27B	2,4-DINITROTOLUENE	121142	320	1600	0.05 for dinitro- toluene	1
28B	2,6-DINITROTOLUENE	606202	200	990	See 27B	1
29B	DI-N-OCTYL PHTHALATE	117840	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
30B	1,2-DIPHENYLHYDRAZINE	122667	3	15	0.03	1
31B	FLUORANTHENE	206440	40	200	20	2
32B	FLUORENE	86737	N/A	N/A	50	2
33B	HEXACHLOROBENZENE	118741	N/A	N/A	0.00008	1
34B	HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE	87683	2	10	0.01	1
35B	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTA- DIENE	77474	1	5	4	2
36B	HEXACHLOROETHANE	67721	12	60	0.1	1
37B	INDENO(1,2,3-cd)PYRENE	193395	N/A	N/A	0.001	1
38B	ISOPHORONE	78591	2100	10000	34	2
39B	NAPHTHALENE	91203	43	140	N/A	-
40B	NITROBENZENE	98953	810	4000	10	2
41B	N-NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE	62759	3400	17000	0.0007	1,5
42B	N-NITROSODI-N-PROPYLAMINE	621647	N/A	N/A	0.005	1,5
43B	N-NITROSODIPHENYLAMINE	86306	59	300	3.3	1,5
E	PENTACHLOROBENZENE	608935	N/A	N/A	0.1	2
44B	PHENANTHRENE	85018	1	5	N/A	-
45B	PYRENE	129000	N/A	N/A	20	2
E	1,2,4,5-TETRACHLOROBENZENE	95943	N/A	N/A	0.03	2
46B	1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE	120821	26	130	0.07	2
1P	ALDRIN	309002	0.1	3	0.0000008	1
2P	alpha-HEXACHLORO-	319846	N/A	N/A	0.0004	1
CYCLOHEXANE (HCH)
3P	beta-HEXACHLORO-	319857	N/A	N/A	0.008	1
CYCLOHEXANE (HCH)
4P	gamma-HEXACHLOROCYCLO-	58899	N/A	0.95	4.2	2
HEXANE (HCH) (LINDANE)
5P	delta-BHC	319868	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
E	CARBARYL	63252	2.1	2.1	N/A	-
6P	CHLORDANE	57749	0.0043	2.4	0.0003	1,4
E	CHLOROPHENOXY HERBICIDE (2,4-D)	94757	N/A	N/A	1300	2
E	CHLOROPHENOXY HERBICIDE (2,4,5-TP)	93721	N/A	N/A	100	2
7P	4,4-DDT	50293	0.001	1.1	0.00003	1,4
8P	4,4-DDE	72559	0.001	1.1	0.00002	1
9P	4,4-DDD	72548	0.001	1.1	0.0001	1
10P	DIELDRIN	60571	0.056	0.24	0.000001	1
11P	alpha-ENDOSULFAN	959988	0.056	0.22	20	2,4
12P	beta-ENDOSULFAN	33213659	0.056	0.22	20	2,4
13P	ENDOSULFAN SULFATE	1031078	N/A	N/A	20	2
14P	ENDRIN	72208	0.036	0.086	0.03	2
15P	ENDRIN ALDEHYDE	7421934	N/A	N/A	1	2
16P	HEPTACHLOR	76448	0.0038	0.52	0.000006	1
17P	HEPTACHLOR EPOXIDE	1024573	0.0038	0.5	0.00003	1
E	HEXACHLOROCYCLO-	608731	N/A	N/A	0.007	1
HEXANE (HCH)-TECHNICAL
E	METHOXYCHLOR	72435	N/A	N/A	0.02	2
18P	PCB		0.014	N/A	0.000064 for PCBs	1,4,5
25P	TOXAPHENE	8001352	0.0002	0.73	0.0007	1
PP	2,3,7,8-TCDD	1746016	N/A	N/A	5.0 E-9	1,5
E	TRIBUTYLTIN		0.072	0.46	N/A	-
D	ACETONE	67641	86000	450000	6000	2
D	ACRYLAMIDE	79061	N/A	N/A	0.07	1
D	ALUMINUM	7429905	N/A	750	N/A	-
D	BARIUM	7440393	4100	21000	1000	2
D	BENZENE METADISULFONIC ACID	98486	1600000	2600000	N/A	-
D	BENZENE MONOSULFONIC ACID	98113	1200000	2000000	N/A	-
D	BENZYL CHLORIDE	100447	N/A	N/A	0.2	1
D	BORON	7440428	1600	8100	1000	2
D	2-BUTOXY ETHANOL	111762	N/A	N/A	700	2
D	COBALT	7440484	19	95	N/A	-
D	p-CRESOL	106445	160	800	N/A	-
D	CYCLOHEXYLAMINE	108918	N/A	N/A	1000	2
E	DIAZINON	333415	0.17	0.17	N/A	-
D	1,4-DIOXANE	123911	N/A	N/A	0.3	1
D	FORMALDEHYDE	50000	440	2200	1000	2
D	2-HEXANONE	591786	4300	21000	N/A	-
D	LITHIUM	7439932	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
D	METHYL ETHYL KETONE	78933	32000	230000	4000	2
D	METHYL ISOBUTYL KETONE	108101	5000	26000	N/A	-
D	METOLACHLOR	51218452	N/A	N/A	700	2
D	NONYLPHENOL	84852153	6.6	28	N/A	-
D	P-PHENOL SULFONIC ACID	98679	1400000	3500000	N/A	-
D	1-PROPANOL	71238	46000	230000	N/A	-
D	2-PROPANOL	67630	89000	440000	N/A	-
D	RESORCINOL	1084603	7200	28000	3000	2
D	STRONTIUM	7440246	N/A	N/A	4000	2
D	1,2,3-TRICHLOROPROPANE	96184	N/A	N/A	30	2
D	1,2,4-TRIMETHYLBENZENE	95636	N/A	N/A	10	2
D	1,3,5-TRIMETHYLBENZENE	108678	N/A	N/A	10	2
D	VANADIUM	7440622	100	510	N/A	-
D	XYLENE	1330207	210	1100	1000	2

¹ Indicates a human health criterion based on a cancer potency factor and cancer risk level at 1 x 10^-6 (CRL); where no cancer potency factor exists, the human health criterion is based on threshold toxicity data plus additional safety factors.

² Indicates a human health criterion based on threshold effect (H).

³ Indicates dissolved aquatic life criterion; others are total recoverable. Each listed dissolved criterion in Table 5 is equal to the corresponding total recoverable criterion before rounding (from the EPA National Ambient Water Quality Criteria Documents) multiplied by the conversion factor (from the Conversion Factors Table); a criterion that is expressed as a hardness (H)-based equation is shown in Table 5 as the conversion factor (listed) multiplied by the hardness criterion equation; an example criterion at hardness=100mg/L is included.

⁴ Indicates duration for aquatic life criteria; CMC = instantaneous; CCC = 24-hour average.

⁵ Indicates human health criterion is based on the exposure inputs of 2 liters per day of drinking water and consumption of 17.5 grams of fish per day, for protection of a 70 Kg person.

CAS—Chemical Abstract Service number

D—DEP developed criteria

E—EPA developed criteria

ln[H]—Natural Logarithm of the Hardness of stream as mg/l CaCO₃

µg/L—Micrograms per liter

N/A—Criterion not developed

PP NO—Priority Pollutant Number

TABLE 5

WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Acronyms and Notes to Table 5

Authority

The provisions of this § 93.8c amended under sections 5(b)(1) and 402 of The Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. § § 691.5(b)(1) and 691.402); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 510-20).

Source

The provisions of this § 93.8c adopted May 15, 2009, effective May 16, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2523; amended July 19, 2013, effective July 20, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 4080; amended July 10, 2020, effective July 11, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 3426; amended December 19, 2025, effective December 20, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 8596. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (401849) to (401860) and (424413) to (424414).

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 16.24 (relating to metals criteria); 25 Pa. Code § 16.51 (relating to human health and aquatic life criteria); 25 Pa. Code § 16.61 (relating to special provisions for the Great Lakes system); and 25 Pa. Code § 93.8d (relating to development of site-specific water quality criteria).