Wood preservation facilites, pentachlorophenol thermal: chapter F, table 3


Table 3. Regulatory Limits for PCP in Natural Water Bodies

Element Limit value (mg/L) Basis (objectives) Agency
Pentachlorophenol

Maximum acceptableFootnotea concentration (MAC) = 0.06 mg/L (60 µg/L)

Aesthetic objective (AO) ≤ 0.03 mg/L (30 µg/L)

Protection of human health (drinking water)

The odour threshold (AO), is more sensitive than the toxic threshold for humans (MAC)

Health Canada Footnotea
  Guidelines 0.5 µg/L Protection of aquatic life Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Footnoteb
  Should not be present in concentrations that exceed 5% of the median lethal concentration (LC50) in a 96-hour test for any sensitive local species Protection of aquatic life
(PCP falls under the category of unspecified non-persistent toxic substances and complex effluents of municipal, industrial or other origin)
International Joint Commission Footnotec
 

Short-term maximum contaminant level (MCL) = 1 mg/L (1 ppb) for 1 day or 0.3 mg/L for 10 days.

0.022 mg/L is the long-term maximum contaminant level

Protection of human health (drinking water) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Footnoted
 

Criteria:

Examples (e)
5.5 µg/L at pH 6.5
20 µg/L at pH 7.8
68 µg/L at pH 9.0

Protection of freshwater biota

  • 1-hour average concentration not to exceed the criterion more than once every 3 years on the average
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FootnoteeFootnotef
  Examples (f)
3.5 µg/l at pH 6.5
13 µg/L at pH 7.8
43 µg/L at pH 9.0

  • 4-day average concentration not to exceed the criterion more than once every 3 years on the average




  7.9 g/L

Protection of saltwater biota

  • 4-day average concentration not to exceed the criterion more than once every 3 years on the average
 
  13 µg/L
  • 1-hour average concentration not to exceed the criterion more than once every 3 years on the average
 
Oil and Petrochemicals To protect aquatic life, should not be present in concentrations that exceed 5% of the median lethal concentration (LC50) in a 96-hour test for any sensitive local species

Oil and petrochemicals should not be present in concentrations that

  • can be detected as visible film, sheen or discoloration on the surface;
  • can be detected by odour;
  • can cause tainting of edible aquatic organisms; and
  • can form deposits--on shorelines and bottom sediments--that are detectable by sight or odour, or are deleterious to resident aquatic organisms.
International Joint Commission Footnotec
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Please refer to the CCME summary table Protection of aquatic life CCMEFootnoteb

Page details

Date modified: