Update of Human Health

Ambient Water Quality Criteria:

gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

58-89-9 

Office of Water

Office of Science and

Technology

EPA 820-R-15-045 

June 2015
EPA 820-R-15-045 

June 2015

Update of Human Health

Ambient Water Quality Criteria:

gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)

58-89-9 

Office of Science and Technology

Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Washington, DC 20460
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

Table of Contents

1 Introduction: Background and Scope of Update..................................................................... 2

2 Problem Formulation............................................................................................................... 3

3 Criteria Formulas: Analysis Plan .............................................................................................. 4

4 Exposure Factors ..................................................................................................................... 5

4.1 Body Weight.................................................................................................................. 5

4.2 Drinking Water Intake................................................................................................... 6

4.3 Fish Consumption Rate ................................................................................................. 6

4.4 Bioaccumulation Factor................................................................................................ 7

4.4.1 Approach ......................................................................................................... 7

4.4.2 Chemical-specific BAFs.................................................................................... 9

5 Hazard Identification and Dose Response............................................................................. 10

5.1 Approach..................................................................................................................... 10

5.2 Chemical-specific Toxicity Value................................................................................. 11

5.2.1 Reference Dose.............................................................................................. 11

5.2.2 Cancer Slope Factor....................................................................................... 12

6 Relative Source Contribution................................................................................................. 12

6.1 Approach..................................................................................................................... 12

6.2 Chemical-specific RSC ................................................................................................. 13

7 Criteria Derivation: Analysis.................................................................................................. 15

7.1 AWQC for Noncarcinogenic Toxicological Effects ...................................................... 16

7.2 AWQC for Carcinogenic Toxicological Effects............................................................. 16

7.3 AWQC Summary ......................................................................................................... 16

8 Criteria Characterization........................................................................................................ 17

9 Chemical Name and Synonyms............................................................................................. 19

10 References............................................................................................................................. 22

1 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

1 Introduction: Background and Scope of Update

EPA’s recommended ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) for human health are scientifically 

derived numeric values that EPA has determined will adequately protect human health from 

the adverse effects of pollutants in ambient water.

Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to develop and publish, and from 

time to time revise, recommended criteria for the protection of water quality that accurately 

reflect the latest scientific knowledge. Water quality criteria developed under section 304(a) 

are based solely on data and scientific judgments on the relationship between pollutant 

concentrations and environmental and human health effects. Section 304(a) criteria do not 

reflect consideration of economic impacts or the technological feasibility of meeting pollutant 

concentrations in ambient water.

EPA’s recommended section 304(a) criteria provide technical information for states and 

authorized tribesa to consider and use in adopting water quality standards that ultimately 

provide the basis for assessing water body health and controlling discharges of pollutants into 

waters of the United States. Under the CWA and its implementing regulations, states and 

authorized tribes are required to adopt water quality criteria to protect the designated uses of 

waters (e.g., public water supply, aquatic life, recreational use, industrial use). EPA’s 

recommended water quality criteria do not substitute for the CWA or regulations, nor are they 

regulations themselves. Thus, EPA’s recommended criteria do not impose legally binding 

requirements. States and authorized tribes may adopt, where appropriate, other scientifically 

defensible water quality criteria that differ from these recommendations.

The water quality criteria that are the subject of this document are national AWQC

recommendations for human health issued under CWA section 304(a). Unless expressly 

indicated otherwise, all references to “criteria,” “water quality criteria,” “ambient water quality 

criteria recommendations,” or similar variants thereof are references to national AWQC

recommendations for human health.

In this 2015 update, EPA has revised the human health criteria for gammahexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) to reflect the latest scientific information, including updated 

exposure factors (body weight [BW], drinking water intake [DI] rate, and fish consumption rate 

[FCR]), bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), and human health toxicity values (reference dose [RfD] 

multiplied by relative source contribution [RSC] or 10-6 divided by cancer slope factor [CSF]). 

The criteria continue to be based on EPA’s Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality 

Criteria for the Protection of Human Health, which is referred to as the “2000 Methodology” in 

this document (USEPA 2000a). EPA accepted written scientific views from the public on the 

draft updated human health criteria for this chemical (and 93 others) from May through August 

2014.

a Throughout this document, the term states means the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

The term authorized tribe or tribe means an Indian tribe authorized for treatment in a manner similar to a state 

under CWA section 518 for the purposes of section 303(c) water quality standards. 

2 

 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

It is important for states and authorized tribes to consider any new or updated section 304(a) 

recommended criteria as part of their triennial review process to ensure that state or tribal 

water quality standards reflect current science and protect applicable designated uses. These 

final 2015 updated section 304(a) human health criteria recommendations supersede EPA’s 

previous recommendations.

2 Problem Formulation

Problem formulation provides a strategic framework for water quality criteria development by 

focusing on the most relevant endpoints and increasing the transparency of the effects 

assessment. The structure of this criteria document is intended to be consistent with general 

concepts of effects assessments as described in EPA’s Framework for Human Health Risk 

Assessment to Inform Decision Making (USEPA 2014a). 

In developing AWQC, EPA currently follows the assessment method outlined in its 2000 

Methodology (USEPA 2000a). The 2000 Methodology describes different approaches for 

addressing water and non-water exposure pathways to derive human health AWQC depending 

on the toxicological endpoint of concern, the toxicological effect (noncarcinogenic or 

carcinogenic), and whether toxicity is considered a linear or threshold effect. Water sources of 

exposure include both consuming drinking water and eating fish or shellfish from inland and 

nearshore waters that have been exposed to pollutants in the water body. For pollutants that 

exhibit a threshold of exposure before deleterious effects occur, as is the case for 

noncarcinogens and nonlinear carcinogens, EPA applies an RSC to account for other potential 

human exposures to the pollutant (USEPA 2000a). Other sources of exposure might include, but 

are not limited to, exposure to a particular pollutant from ocean fish or shellfish consumption 

(which is not included in the FCR), non-fish food consumption (e.g., consumption of fruits, 

vegetables, grains, meats, or poultry), dermal exposure, and inhalation exposure.

For substances for which the toxicity endpoint is carcinogenicity based on a linear low-dose 

extrapolation, only the exposures from drinking water and fish ingestion are reflected in human 

health AWQC; that is, non-water sources are not explicitly included and no RSC is applied 

(USEPA 2000a). In these situations, AWQC are derived with respect to the incremental lifetime 

cancer risk posed by the presence of a substance in water, rather than an individual’s total risk 

from all sources of exposure. The resulting criterion represents the water concentration that is 

expected to increase an individual’s lifetime risk of cancer from exposure to the particular 

pollutant by no more than one chance in one million for the general population. EPA calculates 

AWQC at a 10-6 (one in one million) cancer risk level for the general population (USEPA 2000a). 

The 2000 Methodology recommends that states set human health criteria cancer risk levels for 

the target general population at either 10-5 or 10-6 and also notes that states and authorized 

tribes can choose a more stringent risk level, such as 10-7. 

For substances that are carcinogenic, EPA takes an integrated approach and considers both

cancer and noncancer effects when deriving AWQC (USEPA 2000a; USEPA 2000b). Where 

sufficient data are available, EPA derives AWQC using both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic 

toxicity endpoints and recommends the lower value for the AWQC. The AWQC might not utilize 

3 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

the value obtained from the cancer analysis if it is less protective than that derived from the 

noncancer endpoint. 

3 Criteria Formulas: Analysis Plan

Human health AWQC for toxic pollutants are necessary to protect any designated uses related 

to ingestion of water and ingestion of aquatic organisms. These uses can include, but are not 

limited to, recreation in and on the water, consumption of fish or shellfish (including 

consumption associated with fishing or shellfish harvesting), and protection of drinking water 

supplies.

The derivation of human health AWQC requires information about both the toxicological 

endpoints of concern for water pollutants and the pathways of human exposure to those 

pollutants. EPA considers the following two primary pathways of human exposure to pollutants 

present in a particular water body when deriving human health 304(a) AWQC: (1) direct 

ingestion of drinking water obtained from the water body and (2) consumption of fish or 

shellfish obtained from the water body.

The equations for deriving human health AWQC for noncarcinogenic effects and carcinogenic 

effects are presented as Eqs. 1 and 2. EPA derives recommended human health AWQC based 

on the consumption of both water and aquatic organisms (Eq. 1) and based on the 

consumption of aquatic organisms alone (Eq. 2). The use of one criterion over the other 

depends on the designated use of a particular water body or water bodies (i.e., drinking water 

source and/or fishable waters). EPA recommends applying organism-only AWQC (Eq. 2) to a 

water body where the designated use includes supporting fishable uses under section 101(a) of 

the CWA but the water body is not a drinking water supply source (e.g., non-potable estuarine 

waters that support fish or shellfish for human consumption) (USEPA 2000a). 

EPA recommends including the drinking water exposure pathway for ambient surface waters 

where drinking water is a designated use for the following reasons: (1) drinking water is a 

designated use for surface waters under the CWA, and therefore criteria are needed to ensure 

that this designated use can be protected and maintained; (2) although they are rare, some 

public water supplies provide drinking water from surface water sources without treatment; 

(3) even among the majority of water supplies that do treat surface waters, existing treatments 

might not be effective for reducing levels of particular contaminants; and (4) in consideration of 

the Agency’s goals of pollution prevention, ambient waters should not be contaminated to a 

level where the burden of achieving health objectives is shifted away from those responsible 

for pollutant discharges and placed on downstream users that must bear the costs of upgraded 

or supplemental water treatment (USEPA 2000a). 

4 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

The equations for deriving the criteria values are as follows (USEPA 2000a): 

For consumption of water and organisms:

AWQC (μg/L) = toxicity value (mg/kg-d) × BW (kg) × 1,000 (μg/mg)b (Eq. 1)

 DI (L/d) + ∑ (FCRi (kg/d) × BAFi (L/kg)) 4

i=2

For consumption of organisms only:

AWQC (μg/L) = toxicity value (mg/kg-d) × BW (kg) × 1,000 (μg/mg)c (Eq. 2)

 ∑ (FCRi (kg/d) × BAFi (L/kg)) 4

i=2

Where:

AWQC = ambient water quality criteria

toxicity value = RfD x RSC (mg/kg-d) for noncarcinogenic effects

or

10-6/CSF (kg-d/mg) for carcinogenic effectsd

RSC = relative source contribution (applicable to only noncarcinogenic and nonlinear 

low-dose extrapolation for carcinogenic effects)

BW = body weight

DI = drinking water intake

∑ 4

i=2 = summation of values for aquatic trophic levels (TLs), where the letter i stands 

for the TLs to be considered, starting with TL2 and proceeding to TL4

FCRi = fish consumption rate for aquatic TLs 2, 3, and 4

BAFi = bioaccumulation factor for aquatic TLs 2, 3, and 4

EPA rounds AWQC to the number of significant figures in the least precise parameter as 

described in the 2000 Methodology (USEPA 2000a, section 2.7.3).

4 Exposure Factors

4.1 Body Weight

EPA updated the default BW assumption to 80.0 kg based on National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999 to 2006 as reported in Table 8.1 of EPA’s 

Exposure Factors Handbook (USEPA 2011a). The updated BW represents the mean weight for 

adults ages 21 and older. EPA’s previously recommended BW assumption for adults was 70 kg, 

which was based on the mean BW of adults from the NHANES III database (1988–1994) and a 

1989 study conducted by the National Cancer Institute (USEPA 2000a). 

b 1,000 μg/mg is used to convert the units of mass from milligrams to micrograms. c 1,000 μg/mg is used to convert the units of mass from milligrams to micrograms. d 10-6 or 1 in 1,000,000 risk level for the general population.

5 

 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

4.2 Drinking Water Intake

EPA updated the default DI to 2.4 L/d, rounded from 2.414 L/d, based on NHANES data from 

2003 to 2006 as reported in EPA’s Exposure Factors Handbook (USEPA 2011a, Table 3-23). This 

rate represents the per capita estimate of combined direct and indirect community watere

ingestion at the 90th percentile for adults ages 21 and older. EPA selected the per capita rate for 

the updated DI because it represents the average daily dose estimates; that is, it includes both 

people who drank water during the survey period and those who did not, which is appropriate 

for a national-scale assessment such as CWA section 304(a) national human health criteria 

development (USEPA 2011a, section 3.2.1).

EPA’s updated DI of 2.4 L/d is consistent with the 2000 Methodology. In that document, EPA 

recommended a default DI of 2 L/d, which represented the per capita community water 

ingestion rate at the 86th percentile for adults surveyed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

1994–1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) analysis (USEPA 2000a, 

section 4.3.2.1).

4.3 Fish Consumption Rate

The updated FCR for the general adult population is 22.0 g/d, or 0.0220 kg/d (USEPA 2014b, 

Table 9a). This FCR represents the 90th percentile per capita consumption rate of fish from 

inland and nearshore waters for U.S. adults ages 21 years and older based on NHANES data 

from 2003–2010. The 95 percent confidence interval (CI) of the 90th percentile per capita FCR is 

19.1 g/d and 25.4 g/d. This updated FCR replaces EPA’s previously recommended default FCR of 

17.5 g/d, which represented an estimate of the 90th percentile per capita consumption rate of 

fish from inland and nearshore waters for U.S. adults ages 21 years and older. That default FCR 

was based on USDA’s CSFII 1994–1996 data (USEPA 2002a). 

As recommended in the 2000 Methodology, EPA updated the AWQC to reflect trophic level- 

(TL)-specific FCRs to better represent human dietary consumption of fish. An organism’s trophic 

position in the aquatic food web can have an important effect on the magnitude of 

bioaccumulation of certain chemicals. The TL-specific FCRs are numbered 2, 3, and 4, and they 

account for different categories of fish and shellfish species based on their position in the 

aquatic food web: TL2 accounts for benthic filter feeders; TL3 accounts for forage fish; and TL4 

accounts for predatory fish (USEPA 2000a). 

EPA used the following TL-specific FCRs to derive the updated AWQC: TL2 = 7.6 g/d

(0.0076 kg/d) (95 percent CI [6.4, 9.1] g/d); TL3 = 8.6 g/d (0.0086 kg/d) (95 percent CI [7.2, 

10.2] g/d); and TL4 = 5.1 g/d (0.0051 kg/d) (95 percent CI [4.0, 6.4] g/d). Each TL-specific FCR 

represents the 90th percentile per capita consumption rate of fish and shellfish from inland and 

nearshore waters from that particular TL for U.S. adults ages 21 years and older (USEPA 2014b, 

e Community water includes direct and indirect use of tap water for household uses and excludes bottled water 

and other sources (USEPA 2011a, section 3.3.1.2). Direct ingestion is defined as direct consumption of water as a 

beverage, while indirect ingestion includes water added during food preparation (e.g., cooking, rehydration of 

beverages) but not water intrinsic to purchased foods (USEPA 2011a, section 3.1).

6 

 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

Tables 16a, 17a, and 18a). The sum of these three TL-specific FCRs is 21.3 g/d, which is within 

the 95 percent CI of the overall FCR of 22.0 g/d. EPA recommends using the TL-specific FCRs

when deriving AWQC; however, the overall FCR rate (22.0 g/d) may be used if a simplified 

approach is preferred.

4.4 Bioaccumulation Factor

4.4.1 Approach

Several attributes of the bioaccumulation process are important to understand when deriving 

national BAFs for use in developing national recommended section 304(a) AWQC. First, the 

term bioaccumulation refers to the uptake and retention of a chemical by an aquatic organism 

from all surrounding media, such as water, food, and sediment. The term bioconcentration

refers to the uptake and retention of a chemical by an aquatic organism from water only. For 

some chemicals (particularly those that are highly persistent and hydrophobic), the magnitude 

of bioaccumulation by aquatic organisms can be substantially greater than the magnitude of 

bioconcentration. Thus, an assessment of bioconcentration alone might underestimate the 

extent of accumulation in aquatic biota for those chemicals. Accordingly, the EPA guidelines 

presented in the 2000 Methodology emphasize using, when possible, measured or estimated 

BAFs, which account for chemical accumulation in aquatic organisms from all potential 

exposure routes (USEPA 2000a). 

EPA estimated BAFs for this updated AWQC using EPA’s 2000 Methodology (USEPA 2000a) and 

its Technical Support Document, Volume 2: Development of National Bioaccumulation Factors

(Technical Support Document, Volume 2) (USEPA 2003a). Specifically, these documents provide 

a framework for identifying alternative procedures to derive national trophic level-specific BAFs 

for a chemical based on the chemical’s properties (e.g., ionization and hydrophobicity), 

metabolism, and biomagnification potential (USEPA 2000a; USEPA 2003a). 

EPA’s approach for developing national BAFs represents the long-term average 

bioaccumulation potential of a pollutant in aquatic organisms that are commonly consumed by 

humans across the United States. National BAFs are not intended to reflect fluctuations in 

bioaccumulation over short periods (e.g., a few days) because human health AWQC are 

generally designed to protect humans from long-term (lifetime) exposures to waterborne 

chemicals (USEPA 2003a). 

EPA followed the approach described in Figure 3-1 of the Technical Support Document, Volume 

2 (USEPA 2003a). EPA used peer-reviewed, publicly available information to classify each 

chemical using this framework to derive the most appropriate BAFs according to EPA’s 2000 

Methodology (USEPA 2000a). The framework provides six alternatives, or procedures, resulting 

in up to four possible methods for each chemical, based on the chemical’s properties. These 

four methods follow:

7 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

• BAF Method. This method uses measured BAFs derived from data obtained from field 

studies. Field-measured BAFs were normalized by adjusting for the water-dissolved 

portions of the chemical and the lipid fraction of fish tissue for each species, as well as 

the fraction of the total concentration of chemical in water that is freely dissolved. EPA 

averaged multiple field BAFs using a geometric mean of the normalized BAFs by species 

and trophic level; then EPA further averaged the BAFs across species to compute TL

baseline BAFs. The national-level BAF adjusts the TL baseline BAFs by national default 

values for lipid content, dissolved and particulate organic carbon content, and the noctanol-water partition coefficient (Kow). EPA chose the recommended 50th percentile 

dissolved and particulate organic carbon content for the national-level default values, as 

described in section 6.3 of the Technical Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a). 

• BSAF Method. This method uses biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) to 

estimate BAFs. EPA did not use measured BSAFs to calculate national BAFs because the 

two major compilations of these data—EPA’s Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor Data 

Set, Version 1.0 (USEPA 2015a), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ BSAF database 

(USACE 2015)—have not been peer-reviewed.

• BCF Method. This method uses BAFs estimated from laboratory-measured 

bioconcentration factors (BCFs) with or without adjustment by a food chain multiplier. 

Similar to field BAFs, laboratory-measured BCFs are normalized with the lipid fraction 

and the fraction of the total concentration of chemical in water that is freely dissolved, 

then multiplied by the food chain multiplier where applicable. Multiple values are 

averaged using a geometric mean across species and then across trophic level to 

compute baseline BAFs. The national-level BAF adjusts the TL baseline BAFs by national 

default values for lipid content, dissolved and particulate organic carbon content, and 

the Kow. EPA chose the recommended 50th percentile dissolved and particulate organic 

carbon content for the national-level default values, as described in section 6.3 of the 

Technical Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a). 

• Kow Method. This method predicts BAFs based on a chemical’s Kow, with or without 

adjustment using a food chain multiplier, as described in section 5.4 of the Technical 

Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a). 

Following the decision framework presented in Figure 3-1 of the Technical Support Document, 

Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a), EPA selected one of the six procedures to develop a national-level 

BAF for this chemical. For a given procedure, EPA selected the method that provided BAF 

estimates for all three trophic levels (TL2–TL4) in the following priority:

1. BAF estimates using the BAF method (i.e., based on field-measured BAFs) if possible.

2. BAF estimates using the BCF method if (a) the BAF method did not produce estimates 

for all three trophic levels and (b) the BCF method produced national-level BAF 

estimates for all three trophic levels.

3. BAF estimates using the Kow method if (a) Procedure 1 or 3 was applicable (see Figure 

3-1 of the Technical Support Document, Volume 2 [USEPA 2003a]) and (b) the BAF and 

BCF methods did not produce BAF estimates for all three trophic levels.

8 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

In cases where the procedure called for the BAF method but there were fewer than three 

trophic level estimates and the Kow method did not apply (i.e., Procedures 2, 4, 5, and 6), EPA 

used the BAF method estimate for the reported trophic levels by averaging the estimates using 

a geometric mean when there were two BAFs and using the single estimate when only one was 

available. EPA did not mix values from the BAF and BCF methods. If the BAF method did not 

have sufficient reliable data for any trophic levels, EPA used the BCF method estimates in the 

same manner. If none of the four methods provided sufficient data, or if none were appropriate 

for the procedure, EPA used the BCF from the previously recommended 2002/2003 criteria 

(USEPA 2002b; USEPA 2003b). 

EPA primarily used field-measured BAFs and laboratory-measured BCFs available from peerreviewed, publicly available databases (Arnot and Gobas 2006; Environment Canada 2006) to 

develop national BAFs. If field-measured BAFs and laboratory-measured BCFs were not 

available from those sources, EPA selected Kow values from peer-reviewed sources (i.e., Agency 

for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR] preferentially, followed by U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services’ Hazardous Substances Data Bank) for use in calculating national 

BAFs using the Kow method described in EPA’s Technical Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 

2003a). For those chemicals for which the Kow method was not applicable based on the

Technical Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a), EPA performed open literature 

searches of peer-reviewed journal articles to find field-measured BAFs or laboratory-measured 

BCFs.

4.4.2 Chemical-specific BAFs

EPA selected national BAF values of 1,200 L/kg (TL2), 2,400 L/kg (TL3), and 2,500 L/kg (TL4) for 

gamma-HCH. EPA followed the framework for selection of methods for deriving national BAFs

in Figure 3-1 of the Technical Support Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a) to select a 

procedure for estimating national BAFs for gamma-HCH. Based on the characteristics of this 

chemical, EPA selected Procedure 3 for deriving a national BAF value. Gamma-HCH has the 

following characteristics:

• Nonionic organic chemical (USDHHS 2010)

• Low hydrophobicity (log Kow < 4); log Kow = 3.72 (ATSDR 2005)

• Low/unknown metabolism

EPA was able to locate peer-reviewed, field-measured BAFs for TLs 2, 3, and 4 (Arnot and Gobas 

2006; Environment Canada 2006). Therefore, EPA used the Field BAF method to derive the 

national BAF values for this chemical:

TL2 = 1,200 L/kg

TL3 = 2,400 L/kg

TL4 = 2,500 L/kg

9 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

5 Hazard Identification and Dose Response

5.1 Approach

EPA considered all available toxicity values for both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic 

toxicological effects to develop this updated AWQC for gamma-HCH. As described in the 2000 

Methodology (USEPA 2000a), where data are available EPA derives AWQC for both 

noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic effects and recommends the more protective value for the 

AWQC. (See section 7, Criteria Derivation: Analysis.)

For noncarcinogenic toxicological effects, EPA uses a chronic-duration oral RfD to derive human 

health AWQC. An RfD is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) 

of a daily oral exposure of the human population to a substance that is likely to be without an 

appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. An RfD is typically derived from a 

laboratory animal dosing study in which a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL), lowestobserved-adverse-effect level (LOAEL), or benchmark dose can be obtained. Uncertainty factors 

are applied to reflect the limitations of the data (USEPA 2000a). 

For carcinogenic toxicological effects, EPA uses an oral CSF to derive human health AWQC. The 

oral CSF is an upper bound, approximating a 95 percent confidence limit, on the increased 

cancer risk from a lifetime oral exposure to a stressor.

For this update, EPA conducted a systematic search of eight peer-reviewed, publicly available 

sources to obtain the toxicity value (RfD or CSF) for use in developing AWQC. EPA’s primary 

source of toxicity values for developing human health AWQC is its Integrated Risk Information 

System (IRIS) program (USEPA 2015b). EPA also systematically searched for toxicological 

assessments from the following EPA program offices, other national and international 

programs, and state programs: 

• EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs (USEPA 2015c)

• EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (USEPA 2015d)

• EPA, Office of Water (USEPA 2015e)

• EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (USEPA 2015f)

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry (ATSDR 2015)

• Health Canada (HC 2015)

• California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard 

Assessment (CalEPA 2014)

After identifying and documenting all available toxicity values, EPA followed a systematic 

process to select the toxicity values used to derive the AWQC for noncarcinogenic and 

carcinogenic effects. EPA selected IRIS toxicity values to derive the updated AWQC if any of the 

following conditions were met:

10
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

1. EPA’s IRIS toxicological assessment was the only available source of a toxicity value.

2. EPA’s IRIS toxicological assessment was the most current source of a toxicity value.

3. EPA’s IRIS program was reassessing the chemical in question and had published the 

draft Toxicological Review for public review and comment, discussion at a public 

meeting, and subsequent expert peer review.

f

4. The toxicity value from a more current toxicological assessment from a source other 

than EPA IRIS was based on the same principal study and was numerically the same as 

an older EPA IRIS toxicity value. 

5. A more current toxicological assessment from a source other than EPA IRIS was available,

but it did not include the relevant toxicity value (chronic-duration oral RfD or CSF). 

6. A more current toxicological assessment from a source other than EPA IRIS was 

available, but it did not introduce new science (e.g., the toxicity value was not based on 

a newer principal study) or use a more current modeling approach compared to an older 

EPA IRIS toxicological assessment.

EPA selected the toxicity value from a peer-reviewed, publicly available source other than EPA 

IRIS to derive the updated AWQC if any of the following conditions were met:

1. The chemical is currently used as a pesticide, and EPA Office of Pesticide Programs had a 

toxicity value that was used in pesticide registration decision-making. 

2. A toxicological assessment from a source other than EPA IRIS was the only available 

source of a toxicity value.

3. A more current toxicological assessment from a source other than EPA IRIS introduced 

new science (e.g., the toxicity value was based on a newer principal study) or used a 

more current modeling approach compared to an older EPA IRIS toxicological 

assessment.

5.2 Chemical-specific Toxicity Value

5.2.1 Reference Dose

EPA selected an RfD of 4.7 × 10–3 mg/kg-d (0.0047 mg/kg-d) for gamma-HCH based on a 2002 

EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) (USEPA 2002c). 

EPA OPP identified a study by Amyes (1989) as the critical study and periacinar hepatocyte 

hypertrophy, increased liver/spleen weight, and decreased platelets as the critical effects in rats 

orally exposed to gamma-HCH (USEPA 2002c). The study had a NOAEL of 0.47 mg/kg-d. In 

deriving the RfD, EPA OPP applied a composite uncertainty factor of 100 to account for 

interspecies extrapolation (10) and intraspecies variation (10) (USEPA 2002c). 

f Equivalent to Step 4 in the July 2013 EPA Process for Developing IRIS Health Assessments. Available online at 

http://www.epa.gov/iris/process.htm. 

11

 
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

EPA identified three other potential RfD sources through the systematic search described in 

section 5: a 1986 EPA IRIS assessment (USEPA 1986), a 1999 California EPA assessment (CalEPA 

1999), and a 2005 ATSDR assessment (ATSDR 2005). Based on the selection process described 

in section 5, the 2002 OPP RfD is preferred for use in AWQC development at this time. The 

ATSDR assessment does not include the relevant (chronic oral) toxicity endpoint. The OPP RED 

is the most current available RfD source. 

5.2.2 Cancer Slope Factor

Under the 1999 EPA Review Draft Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (USEPA 1999), EPA

OPP classified gamma-HCH as “suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not sufficient to 

assess human carcinogenic potential” (USEPA 2001; USEPA 2002c). Citing a 2001 Cancer 

Assessment Review Committee report on the carcinogenicity of gamma-HCH (USEPA 2001), 

OPP did not quantify human cancer risk in its 2002 RED (USEPA 2002c). EPA’s IRIS program has 

not developed a carcinogenicity assessment for gamma-HCH (USEPA 1986). 

EPA identified one source of a CSF for gamma-HCH through the systematic search described in 

section 5: a 1999 California EPA assessment (CalEPA 1999). Based on the selection process 

described in section 5, EPA is not selecting this CSF for AWQC development at this time. Cancer 

risk was not quantified by EPA in its most recent assessment (USEPA 2001; USEPA 2002c). Thus, 

EPA will not derive AWQC for carcinogenic toxicological effects for gamma-HCH at this time.

6 Relative Source Contribution

6.1 Approach

The RSC component of the AWQC calculation allows a percentage of the RfD’s exposure to be 

attributed to the consumption of ambient water and fish and shellfish from inland and 

nearshore waters when there are other potential exposure sources. The RSC describes the 

portion of the RfD available for AWQC-related sources (USEPA 2000a); the remainder of the RfD 

is allocated to other sources of the pollutant. The rationale for this approach is that for 

pollutants exhibiting threshold effects, the objective of the AWQC is to ensure that an 

individual’s total exposure from all sources does not exceed that threshold level. Exposures 

outside the RSC include, but are not limited to, exposure to a particular pollutant from ocean 

fish and shellfish consumption (which is not included in the FCR), non-fish food consumption 

(e.g., fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, poultry), dermal exposure, and respiratory exposure.

EPA derived an RSC for each chemical included in this 2015 update by using the Exposure 

Decision Tree approach described in the 2000 Methodology (USEPA 2000a). To use that

approach, EPA compiled information for each chemical on its uses, chemical and physical 

properties, occurrences in other potential sources (e.g., air, food), and releases to the 

environment, as well as regulatory restrictions on other sources that are specific to the 

chemical (e.g., air quality standards, food tolerance levels). The ATSDR “Toxicological Profiles”

(ATSDR 2015) were the primary sources for this information. EPA used the Hazardous 

Substance Data Bank (HSDB) (USDHHS 2015) from the National Library of Medicine’s Toxicology 

12
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

Data Network (TOXNET) as the primary source for chemicals without ATSDR Toxicological 

Profiles. Both sources are peer-reviewed compilations of chemical information.

EPA used additional references, including the following, to obtain specific types of information 

and to supplement the information from ATSDR and the HSDB: 

• EPA’s Six-Year Reviews (drinking water data) (USEPA 2009a; USEPA 2009b). 

• FDA Total Diet Study (USFDA 2015). 

• FDA Everything Added to Food in the United States (USFDA 2013). 

• EPA National Lake Fish Tissue Study (USEPA 2009c). 

• EPA Toxic Release Inventory (USEPA 2015g). 

• International Bottled Water Association Standards of Quality (IBWA 2012). 

• NOAA Mussel Watch (NOAA 2014). 

• Additional sources as needed.

To determine the RSC to be used in the AWQC calculation, EPA then used the information 

compiled for each chemical to address the questions posed in the Exposure Decision Tree. 

Some of the important items evaluated in the Exposure Decision Tree follow:

• The adequacy of the data available for each relevant exposure source and pathway. 

• The availability of sufficient information to characterize the likelihood of exposure to 

relevant sources. 

• Whether there are significant known or potential uses/sources other than the source of 

concern (i.e., ambient water and fish/seafood from those waters). 

• Whether information on each source is available to make a characterization of 

exposure. 

In cases where there is a lack of environmental or exposure data, or both, the Exposure 

Decision Tree approach results in a recommended RSC of 20 percent. This 20 percent value for 

the RSC may be replaced where sufficient data are available to develop a scientifically 

defensible alternative value. When appropriate, if scientific data demonstrating that sources 

and routes of exposure other than water and fish from inland and nearshore waters are not 

anticipated for the pollutant in question, the RSC may be raised to 80 percent based on the 

available data (USEPA 2000a). 

6.2 Chemical-specific RSC

Gamma-HCH is an insecticide that, until 2006, when its registration was voluntarily cancelled,

was used on fruits, vegetables, grains, forest crops, and animals and in animal premises. 

Gamma-HCH is presently used as prescription medication for scabies and head lice (ATSDR 

2005; USEPA 2006). Due to its pharmaceutical uses, dermal exposure could also be a source of 

gamma-HCH to those using it for a prescribed treatment. Because of its prior use on various 

crops and persistence, ingestion from food is a potential source of gamma-HCH exposure to the 

13
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

general population. In addition, surface water, finished drinking water, and ingestion of fish and 

shellfish are possible sources of gamma-HCH exposure.

Gamma-HCH is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and EPA’s drinking water 

standard (maximum contaminant level) is 0.2 μg/L (USEPA 2014c). Gamma-HCH has previously

been detected in treated drinking water: with mean concentrations of 23 ng/L and 147 ng/L in 

1978; a mean concentration of 0.01 ng/L in 1976; and a mean concentration of 0.2 ng/L in 1972 

(ATSDR 2005). Prior to its cancellation as a pesticide, gamma-HCH was a target analyte in EPA’s 

Six-Year Reviews (1996–2002) and was detected in some drinking water, groundwater, and 

surface water samples (USEPA 2009a; USEPA 2009b). There is a Standard of Quality for bottled 

water for gamma-HCH of 0.2 μg/L (IBWA 2012). Therefore, based on available information 

regarding detection, ingestion of surface water and finished drinking water is a potentially 

significant source of exposure to gamma-HCH. 

The log Kow for gamma-HCH is 3.72 (ATSDR 2005). The national-level BAF estimates for gammaHCH range from 1,200 L/kg (TL2) to 2,500 L/kg (TL4), which indicates gamma-HCH has a high 

potential for bioaccumulation (USEPA 2011b). Gamma-HCH was not a target analyte in NOAA’s 

Mussel Watch Survey (NOAA 2014). EPA's National Lake Fish Tissue Study included gamma-HCH

as a target analyte, and it was detected in predator and bottom-dwelling fish (USEPA 2009c). 

More recent exposure information regarding concentrations of gamma-HCH in fish and shellfish 

from inland and nearshore waters and ocean fish and shellfish could not be identified. Thus, 

based on its potential to bioaccumulate, ingestion of fish and shellfish is a potentially significant 

source of exposure to gamma-HCH. 

The 2004–2005 FDA Total Diet Study detected trace amounts of gamma-HCH in food samples 

including chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and candy bars (USFDA 2005). According to ATSDR 

(2005), gamma-HCH was also previously detected in ready-to-eat foods in an FDA study 

conducted between 1982 and 1991 (an average concentration of 0.0012 μg/L). Recent 

monitoring data indicate that food may no longer be a significant exposure source for the 

chemical. In 2013, gamma-HCH was not detected in fruit and vegetables, drinking water, or 

groundwater, as reported by the Pesticide Data Program (USDA 2014). EPA no longer sets a 

40 CFR part 180 pesticide tolerance for this chemical in food and feed commodities (USGPO 

2015). Based on its more recent information regarding detection of gamma-HCH, exposure to 

gamma-HCH from ingestion of food is not considered likely.

Air is a potential source of gamma-HCH exposure (ATSDR 2005). Recent data from EPA’s Toxic 

Release Inventory indicate that 9,079 pounds of gamma-HCH were released in 2013; however, 

all sources appear to have been at disposal facilities (USEPA 2015g). Gamma-HCH has been 

previously detected in the air near highways, in cities, and adjacent to industrial manufacturing 

plants (ATSDR 2005). It also was detected in samples collected between 1979 and 1980, with a 

mean concentration of 0.23 ng/m3; in troposphere air samples in 1985 with a mean 

concentration of 0.509 ng/m3; and in 1988, with a mean concentration of 0.021 ng/m3. Samples 

collected in 1996 and 1997 had a mean concentration of 0.050 ng/m3, and samples collected 

between 1990 and 1997 had average concentrations of 0.024–0.062 ng/m3 (ATSDR 2005). 

14
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

Inhalation exposure is also possible via showering, bathing, or cooking with contaminated 

water (ATSDR 2005). The vapor pressure of gamma-HCH (4.2 × 10-5 mm Hg at 20 °C) indicates 

that volatilization is not an important fate process for this chemical (ATSDR 2005). EPA lists 

gamma-HCH as a hazardous air pollutant (USEPA 2013). Based on its limited use, exposure to 

gamma-HCH from air is possible but not considered likely.

In summary, based on the physical properties and available exposure information for gammaHCH, drinking water and fish and shellfish from inland and nearshore waters are likely to be the

most significant sources of gamma-HCH exposure. Although gamma-HCH has been detected in 

food and air in the past, its limited use as a pharmaceutical product is expected to limit 

exposure from these sources to the general population. Therefore, the most significant routes 

of exposure to the general population are expected to be from ingestion of fish and shellfish 

from inland and nearshore waters and drinking water. Limited exposure is also possible from 

inhalation and dermal contact. Following the Exposure Decision Tree in EPA’s 2000 

Methodology (USEPA 2000a), there is not likely to be significant potential sources other than 

fish and shellfish from inland and nearshore waters and water ingestion (Box 7 in the Decision 

Tree). Therefore, EPA recommends an RSC of 50 percent (0.50) for gamma-HCH. 

7 Criteria Derivation: Analysis

Table 1 summarizes the model inputs used to derive the 2015 updated human health AWQC 

that are protective of exposure to gamma-HCH from consuming drinking water and eating fish 

and shellfish (organisms) from inland and nearshore waters. The criteria calculations are 

presented below. These updated criteria recommendations are based on the 2000 

Methodology (USEPA 2000a) and the updated exposure assumptions described above. (See 

section 4, Exposure Factors; section 5, Hazard Identification and Dose Response; and section 6, 

Relative Source Contribution.)

Table 1. Summary of Input Parameters for 2015 Human Health AWQC for gamma-HCH

Input Parameter Value

RfD 0.0047 mg/kg-d

CSF No data

RSC 0.50

BW 80.0 kg

DI 2.4 L/d

FCR

TL2 0.0076 kg/d

TL3 0.0086 kg/d

TL4 0.0051 kg/d

BAF

TL2 1,200 L/kg

TL3 2,400 L/kg

TL4 2,500 L/kg

15
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

7.1 AWQC for Noncarcinogenic Toxicological Effects

For consumption of water and organisms:

AWQC (μg/L) = toxicity value (RfD [mg/kg-d] × RSC) × BW (kg) × 1,000 (μg/mg)

 DI (L/d) + ∑ (FCRi (kg/d) × BAFi (L/kg)) 4

i=2

 = 0.0047 mg/kg-d × 0.50 × 80.0 kg × 1,000 μg/mg

 2.4 L/d + ((0.0076 kg/d × 1,200 L/kg) + (0.0086 kg/d × 2,400 L/kg) + (0.0051 kg/d × 2,500 L/kg))

 = 4.186 μg/L

 = 4.2 μg/L (rounded)

For consumption of organisms only:

AWQC (μg/L) = toxicity value (RfD [mg/kg-d] × RSC) × BW (kg) × 1,000 (μg/mg)

 ∑ (FCRi (kg/d) × BAFi (L/kg)) 4

i=2

 = 0.0047 mg/kg-d × 0.50 × 80.0 kg × 1,000 μg/mg

 (0.0076 kg/d × 1,200 L/kg) + (0.0086 kg/d × 2,400 L/kg) + (0.0051 kg/d × 2,500 L/kg)

 = 4.422 μg/L

 = 4.4 μg/L (rounded)

7.2 AWQC for Carcinogenic Toxicological Effects

EPA identified no CSF sources through the systematic search described above. (See section 5, 

Hazard Identification and Dose Response.) Therefore, EPA was unable to derive AWQC for 

carcinogenic toxicological effects.

7.3 AWQC Summary

EPA derived the AWQC for gamma-HCH using a noncarcinogenic toxicity endpoint. The updated 

human health AWQC for gamma-HCH are 4.2 μg/L for consumption of water and organisms 

and 4.4 μg/L for consumption of organisms only (Table 2). These updated criteria replace EPA’s

previously published values (USEPA 2003b). 

Table 2. Summary of EPA’s Previously Recommended (2003) and Updated (2015) Human Health 

AWQC for gamma-HCH

2003 Human Health AWQC 2015 Human Health AWQC

Water and Organism 0.98 μg/L 4.2 μg/L

Organism Only 1.8 μg/L 4.4 μg/L

These AWQC are intended to be protective of the general adult population from 

noncarcinogenic effects due to chronic (up to a lifetime) exposure to gamma-HCH from 

ingesting water and/or consuming fish and shellfish from inland and nearshore waters.

16
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

8 Criteria Characterization

The updated 2015 human health AWQC for gamma-HCH take into account current data on 

health effects and exposure input parameters, consistent with the 2000 Methodology (USEPA 

2000a). The following paragraphs describe the individual influence of each of the revised inputs 

and exposure assumptions on the overall change in value.

Body Weight

EPA’s updated AWQC assume a higher BW compared to the previously recommended 2002 

criteria, reflecting a recent rise in average adult BW among the U.S. population. The updated 

BW assumption of 80.0 kg, based on recent survey data from the 1999−2006 NHANES data, is 

10 kg greater than the previous assumption of 70 kg. Assuming all other input parameters 

remain constant, a higher average BW in the AWQC calculations (Eqs. 1 and 2 above) results in 

higher AWQC. That is, as BW increases, the level of a contaminant in water at or below which 

negative health effects are not anticipated from a lifetime of exposure also increases.

Drinking Water Intake

The updated DI assumption is 2.4 L/d, which is higher than the previously recommended rate of 

2 L/d. Assuming all other input parameters remain constant, a higher DI assumption in the 

AWQC calculations (Eqs. 1 and 2 above) results in lower AWQC. That is, as DI increases, and 

thus overall exposure increases, the level of a contaminant in water at or below which negative 

health effects are not anticipated from a lifetime of exposure decreases.

Fish Consumption Rate

The updated FCR for fish and shellfish from inland and nearshore waters is 22.0 g/d; the 

TL-specific FCRs are 7.6 g/d, 8.6 g/d, and 5.1 g/d for TLs 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The previously 

recommended FCR was 17.5 g/d. Assuming all other input parameters remain constant, a 

higher FCR assumption in the AWQC calculations (Eqs. 1 and 2 above) results in lower AWQC. 

That is, as fish consumption increases, and thus overall exposure increases, the level of a 

contaminant in water at or below which negative health effects are not anticipated from a 

lifetime of exposure decreases.

Bioaccumulation Factor

The national lower (TL2), mid (TL3), and upper (TL4) trophic level BAFs used in the updated 

AWQC (Eqs. 1 and 2 above) are 1,200, 2,400, and 2,500 L/kg wet-weight, respectively. These 

BAFs were derived using EPA’s 2000 Methodology (USEPA 2000a) and its Technical Support 

Document, Volume 2 (USEPA 2003a). These national trophic level BAFs replace EPA’s previously 

recommended BCF of 130 L/kg.

As an additional line of evidence, EPA used model-estimated BAFs from the Estimation Program 

Interface (EPI) Suite (USEPA 2012) to support field-measured or predicted BAFs developed using 

the four methods described above. The BCFBAF program within EPI Suite estimates fish BAFs by 

using Kow and biotransformation data from a model designed by Arnot and Gobas (2003). The 

17
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

model includes mechanistic processes for bioaccumulation, such as chemical uptake from the 

water at the gill surface and from the diet, chemical elimination at the gill surface, fecal 

egestion, growth dilution, and metabolic biotransformation. Other processes included in the 

calculations are bioavailability in the water column (only the freely dissolved fraction can 

bioconcentrate) and absorption efficiencies at the gill and in the gastrointestinal tract. The 

model requires the Kow of the chemical and the normalized whole-body metabolic 

biotransformation rate constant as input parameters to predict BAF values. The EPI Suite model 

estimates are as follows: 

TL2 = 934.9 L/kg

TL3 = 1,118 L/kg

TL4 = 1,935 L/kg

Assuming all other input parameters remain constant, higher BAFs or BCFs result in lower 

AWQC. That is, as bioaccumulation or bioconcentration of a contaminant in fish and shellfish 

increases, the level of a contaminant in water at or below which negative health effects are not 

anticipated from a lifetime of exposure decreases.

The utilization of a national-level BAF rather than a BCF better represents the amount of a 

contaminant accumulating in an organism because it accounts not only for the organism’s 

exposure to the pollutant in the water column, but also from the food chain and surrounding 

environment as well as biotransformation of the pollutant in the organism due to metabolic 

processes. The utilization of the three trophic levels of fish and shellfish consumed, as opposed 

to representing all trophic levels of fish and shellfish consumed by a single value, allows for 

better exposure representation.

Reference Dose

EPA selected an RfD of 0.0047 mg/kg-d for gamma-HCH based on a 2002 EPA OPP RED (USEPA 

2002c). This RfD replaces the previous value of 0.0003 mg/kg-d (USEPA 2003b). EPA used the 

RfD of 0.0047 mg/kg-d to derive AWQC for noncarcinogenic effects. Assuming all other input 

parameters remain constant, an increase in the RfD in the AWQC calculations (Eqs. 1 and 2) 

results in higher AWQC.

Cancer Slope Factor

EPA did not select a CSF for gamma-HCH and therefore did not derive AWQC for carcinogenic 

effects. EPA did not derive AWQC for carcinogenic effects of gamma-HCH in its previous criteria 

update (USEPA 2003b). 

Relative Source Contribution

An RSC of 50 percent is included in the AWQC calculation. This is higher than the 20 percent 

RSC used in the previous AWQC (USEPA 2003b). Assuming all other input parameters remain 

constant, a higher RSC in the AWQC calculations (Eqs. 1 and 2) results in higher AWQC.

18
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

9 Chemical Name and Synonyms

• Gamma-HCH (Lindane) (CAS Number 58-89-9)

• Aalindan

• Aficide

• Agrisol G-20

• Agronexit

• Ameisenatod

• Ameisenmittel Merck

• Aparasin

• Aphtiria

• Aplidal

• Arbitex

• BBH

• Ben-Hex

• Bentox 10

• Gamma-Benzene Hexachloride

• Benzene Hexachloride-Gamma-Isomer

• Bexol

• BHC

• Gamma-BHC

• Celanex

• Chloresene

• Codechine

• Cyclohexane, 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexachloro-, Gamma-Isomer

• DBH

• Detmol-Extrakt

• Detox 25

• Devoran

• Dol Granule

• Drill Tox-Spezial Aglukon

• ENT 7,796

• Entomoxan

• Exagama

• Forlin

• Gallogama

• Gamacarbatox

• Gamacid

• Gamaphex

• Gamene

• Gamiso

• Gamma-Col

19
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

• Gammahexa

• Gammahexane

• Gammalin

• Gammalin 20

• Gammaterr

• Gammex

• Gammexane

• Gammopaz

• Gexane

• HCCH

• HCH

• Gamma-HCH

• Heclotox

• Hexa

• Hexachloran

• Hexachlorane

• Gamma-Hexachlorane

• Gamma-Hexachloran

• Gamma-Hexachlor

• Gamma-Hexachlorobenzene

• 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexachlorocyclohexane

• 1-Alpha,2-Alpha,3-Beta,4-Alpha,5-Alpha,6-Beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane

• Hexachlorocyclohexane, Gamma- 

• Gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexachlorocyclohexane

• 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Gamma-Isomer

• Hexachlorocyclohexane, Gamma-Isomer

• Hexatox

• Hexaverm

• Hexicide

• Hexyclan

• HGI

• Hortex

• Inexit

• Isotox

• Jacutin

• Kokotine

• Kwell

• Lendine

• Lentox

• Lidenal

• Lindafor

• Lindagam

20
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

• Lindagrain

• Lindagranox

• Lindane

• Gamma-Lindane

• Lindapoudre

• Lindatox

• Lindosep

• Lintox

• Lorexane

• Milbol 49

• Mszycol

• NA 2761

• NCI-C00204

• Neo-Scabicidol

• Nexen Fb

• Nexit

• Nexit-Stark

• Nexol-E 

• Nicochloran

• Novigam

• Omnitox

• Owadziak

• Pedraczak

• Pflanzol

• Quellada

• RCRA Waste Number U129

• Sang Gamma

• Silvanol

• Spritz-Rapidin

• Spruehpflanzol

• Streunex

• TAP 85

• Tri-6 

• Viton

21
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

10 References

Amyes, S. 1989. Lindane: Combined Oncogenicity and Toxicity Study by Dietary Administration 

to Wistar Rats for 104 Weeks: Final Report. Laboratory project no. 90/CIL002/0839: 

CIL/002/LIN. Unpublished study prepared by Life Science Research Ltd. 3451 pp.

Arnot, J.A., and A.P.C. Gobas. 2003. A Generic QSAR for Assessing the Bioaccumulation 

Potential of Organic Chemicals in Aquatic Food Webs. QSAR & Combinatorial Science

22:337–345.

Arnot, J.A., and A.P.C. Gobas. 2006. A review of bioconcentration factor (BCF) and 

bioaccumulation factor (BAF) assessments for organic chemicals in aquatic organisms. 

Environmental Reviews 14(4):257–297.

ATSDR. 2005. Toxicological Profile for Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, and Delta-Hexachlorocyclohexane. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service, Agency for 

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp43.pdf. 

ATSDR. 2015. Toxic Substances Portal. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

U.S. Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, 

GA. Accessed February 2015. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/index.asp. 

CalEPA. 1999. Public Health Goal for Lindane in Drinking Water. California Environmental 

Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Accessed March 

2015. http://oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/pdf/lindan_f.pdf. 

CalEPA. 2014. All Public Health Goals. California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 

Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/allphgs.html. 

Environment Canada. 2006. Bioaccumulation Canada. In The OECD QSAR Toolbox, Version 3.3.2.

An online database. Retrieved January 5, 2015. Organisation for Economic Co-operation 

and Development, Paris, France. 

http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/risk-assessment/theoecdqsartoolbox.htm. 

HC. 2015. Health Canada. Home page. Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Accessed February 

2015. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php. 

IBWA. 2012. International Bottled Water Association Bottled Water Code of Practice (Revised 

December, 2012). International Bottled Water Association, Alexandria, VA. Accessed 

January 2015.

22
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

NOAA. 2014. National Centers for Ocean and Coastal Science, National Status and Trends Data 

Portal (NCCOS NS&T Data Portal). U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Ocean and Coastal Science, Silver 

Spring, MD. Accessed March 2015. http://egisws02.nos.noaa.gov/nsandt/index.html#. 

USACE. 2015. Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor Database. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. Accessed March 2015. 

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/bsafnew/BSAF.html. 

USDA. 2014. Pesticide Data Program—Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2013. U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5110007. 

USDHHS. 2010. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (CASRN: 608-73-1). Hazardous Substances Data Bank, a 

TOXNET database. Retrieved February 18, 2015. U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+1606. 

USDHHS. 2015. TOXNET. Home page. Hazardous Substances Data Bank, a TOXNET database. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, U.S. 

National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. Accessed January 2015. 

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm. 

USEPA. 1986. Gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) (CASRN 58-89-9). Integrated Risk 

Information System. Oral RfD assessment verification date January 22, 1986. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 

Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0065.htm. 

USEPA. 1999. Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment. Review Draft. NCEA-F-0644. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://ofmpub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=437005. 

USEPA. 2000a. Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of 

Human Health (2000). EPA-822-B-00-004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office 

of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/upload/2005_05_06_criteria_hum

anhealth_method_complete.pdf. 

USEPA. 2000b. Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of 

Human Health (2000), Technical Support Document. Vol. 1, Risk Assessment. EPA-822-B00-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and 

Technology, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/methodology/uplo

ad/2005_05_06_criteria_humanhealth_method_supportdoc.pdf. 

23
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

USEPA. 2001. Cancer Assessment Document: Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Potential of 

Lindane. PC. Code: 009001. Final Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office 

of Pesticide Program.

USEPA. 2002a. Estimated Per Capita Fish Consumption in the United States. EPA-821-C-02-003. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. Accessed 

February 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/upload/consumpti

on_report.pdf. 

USEPA. 2002b. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria: 2002. EPA-822-R-02-047. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and 

Technology, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/upload/2008_04_29_criteria_wqct

able_nrwqc-2002.pdf. 

USEPA. 2002c. Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Lindane. U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington, DC. Accessed May 2015. 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2002-0202-0027. 

USEPA. 2003a. Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of 

Human Health (2000), Technical Support Document. Vol. 2, Development of National 

Bioaccumulation Factors. EPA-822-R-03-030. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC. Accessed March 

2015. http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/meetings/2008/october/methodology.pdf. 

USEPA. 2003b. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human 

Health. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal Register, December 31, 2003, 

68:75507–75515. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2003-12-31/html/03-32211.htm. 

USEPA. 2006. Lindane Voluntary Cancellation and RED Addendum Fact Sheet. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Accessed May 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/REDs/factsheets/lindane_fs_addendum.

htm. 

USEPA. 2009a. Contaminant Occurrence Support Document for Category 1 Contaminants for the 

Second Six-Year Review of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. EPA 815-B-09-

010. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and 

Drinking Water, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/regulatingcontaminants/sixyearreview/second

_review/upload/6YearCategory1Report.pdf. 

24
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

USEPA. 2009b. Contaminant Occurrence Support Document for Category 2 Contaminants for the 

Second Six-Year Review of National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. EPA-815-B-09-

011. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and 

Drinking Water, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/regulatingcontaminants/sixyearreview/second

_review/upload/6YearCategory2Report_final.pdf. 

USEPA. 2009c. The National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue. EPA-823-R-09-006. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and 

Technology, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishstudies/upload/2009_9_28_fish_study_

data_finalreport.pdf. 

USEPA. 2011a. Exposure Factors Handbook: 2011 Edition. EPA-600-R-09-052F. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 

Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/ncea/efh/pdfs/efh-complete.pdf. 

USEPA. 2011b. Design for the Environment Program Alternatives Assessment Criteria for Hazard 

Evaluation. Version 2.0. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution 

Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-01/documents/aa_criteria_v2.pdf. 

USEPA. 2012. Estimation Programs Interface (EPI) SuiteTM for Microsoft® Windows, v 4.10. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 

Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/exposure/pubs/episuite.htm. 

USEPA. 2013. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 List of Hazardous Air Pollutants. Air toxics 

web site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air 

Quality Planning and Standards, Washington, DC. Accessed January 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/airtoxics/orig189.html. 

USEPA. 2014a. Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment to Inform Decision Making. 

EPA-100-R-14-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Science Advisor, 

Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-12/documents/hhra-frameworkfinal-2014.pdf. 

USEPA. 2014b. Estimated Fish Consumption Rates for the U.S. Population and Selected 

Subpopulations (NHANES 2003-2010). EPA-820-R-14-002. U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/upload/Estimated

-Fish-Consumption-Rates-for-the-U-S-Population-and-Selected-SubpopulationsNHANES-2003-2010.pdf. 

25
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

USEPA. 2014c. Drinking Water Contaminants. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and 

Drinking Water, Washington, DC. Accessed January 2015. 

http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm. 

USEPA. 2015a. Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor Data Set, Version 1.0. U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC. Accessed 

March 2015. http://www.epa.gov/med/Prods_Pubs/bsaf.htm. 

USEPA. 2015b. Integrated Risk Information System. Home page. U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/iris/. 

USEPA. 2015c. Pesticide Chemical Search. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 

Pesticide Programs, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://iaspub.epa.gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=chemicalsearch:1. 

USEPA. 2015d. Existing Chemicals. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution 

Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. 

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/. 

USEPA. 2015e. Water Home. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 

Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. http://water.epa.gov/. 

USEPA. 2015f. Provisional Peer Reviewed Toxicity Values for Superfund (PPRTV). 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, 

Washington, DC. Accessed February 2015. http://hhpprtv.ornl.gov/quickview/pprtv.php. 

USEPA. 2015g. TRI Explorer. (2013 Dataset [released March 2015]) (Internet database) 

Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer, March 13, 2015. 

http://iaspub.epa.gov/triexplorer/release_chem?p_view=USCH&trilib=TRIQ1&sort=_VIE

W_&sort_fmt=1&state=All+states&county=All+counties&chemical=All+chemicals&indus

try=ALL&year=2013&tab_rpt=1&fld=RELLBY&fld=TSFDSP. 

USFDA. 2005. Total Diet Study – Market Baskets 2004-1 through 2005-4. U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Food Safety, 

College Park, MD. Accessed March 2015. 

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodScienceResearch/TotalDietStudy/UCM29168

5.pdf. 

USFDA. 2013. Everything Added to Food in the United States (EAFUS). Home page. Prioritybased Assessment of Food Additives database. U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Accessed January 2015. 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnNavigation.cfm?filter=msg&sortColumn=

&rpt=eafusListing. 

26
Gamma-HCH 58-89-9 

USFDA. 2015. Total Diet Study: Introduction. Home page. U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Accessed March 2015. 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/TotalDietStudy/default.htm. 

USGPO. 2015. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 40 CFR 180. U.S. Government Publishing 

Office, Washington, DC. Accessed March 2015. 

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr180_main_02.tpl. 

27