October 7, 2011

OR Department of Environmental Quality

Page 1 of 5

TABLE 40: Human Health Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants

Effective October 17, 2011

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).

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)A7440382 y n 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 of 1.1 x 10-5, and the “water + organism” criterion is based on a risk level of 1 x 10-4

8 AsbestosB

1332214 y n 7,000,000 fibers/L --

B

The 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 --
October 7, 2011

OR Department of Environmental Quality

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No. Pollutant CAS No. Carcinogen

Aquatic 

Life 

Criterion

Human Health Criteria for the 

Consumption of:

Water + Organism 

(μg/L)

Organism Only 

(μg/L)

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 0.05

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
October 7, 2011

OR Department of Environmental Quality

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No. Pollutant CAS No. Carcinogen

Aquatic 

Life 

Criterion

Human Health Criteria for the 

Consumption of:

Water + Organism 

(μg/L)

Organism Only 

(μg/L)

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-hexaneTechnical 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 
October 7, 2011

OR Department of Environmental Quality

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No. Pollutant CAS No. Carcinogen

Aquatic 

Life 

Criterion

Human Health Criteria for the 

Consumption of:

Water + Organism 

(μg/L)

Organism Only 

(μg/L)

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

J

This 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 n 140 170

86 Nitrates K

14797558 n n 10000 --

K

The 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 n 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 y 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
October 7, 2011

OR Department of Environmental Quality

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No. Pollutant CAS No. Carcinogen

Aquatic 

Life 

Criterion

Human Health Criteria for the 

Consumption of:

Water + Organism 

(μg/L)

Organism Only 

(μg/L)

111 Trichlorophenol, 2, 4, 5- 95954 n n 330 360

112 Vinyl Chloride 75014 y n 0.023 0.24

113 Zinc 7440666 n n 2100 2600