Two assessment criteria are used to assess the status of metal concentrations: the
BACs were developed within the Oslo and Paris Commission framework with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Mean concentrations significantly below the BAC are said to be near background.
ERLs were developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for assessing the ecological significance of sediment concentrations. Concentrations below the ERL rarely cause adverse effects in marine organisms.
BACs and ERLs are available for the following metals
BAC | ERL | |
Arsenic | 25 | 8.2 |
Cadmium | 0.31 | 1.2 |
Chromium | 81 | 81 |
Copper | 27 | 34 |
Mercury | 0.07 | 0.15 |
Nickel | 36 | 21 |
Lead | 38 | 47 |
Zinc | 122 | 150 |
Notes:
Two assessment criteria are used to assess the status of PAH concentrations: the
BACs were developed within the Oslo and Paris Commission framework with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Mean concentrations significantly below the BAC are said to be near background.
ERLs were developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for assessing the ecological significance of sediment concentrations. Concentrations below the ERL rarely cause adverse effects in marine organisms.
BACs and ERLs are available for the following PAHs
BAC | ERL | |
Naphthalene | 8 | 160 |
Phenanthrene | 32 | 240 |
Anthracene | 5 | 85 |
Dibenzothiophene | 190 | |
Fluoranthene | 39 | 600 |
Pyrene | 24 | 665 |
Benz[a]anthracene | 16 | 261 |
Chrysene (Triphenylene) | 20 | 384 |
Benzo[a]pyrene | 30 | 430 |
Benzo[ghi]perylene | 80 | |
Indeno[123-cd]pyrene | 103 |
Notes:
Two assessment criteria are used to assess the status of chlorobiphenyl concentrations: the
The assessment criteria were developed within the Oslo and Paris Commission framework with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Mean concentrations significantly below the BAC are said to be near background. Concentrations below the EAC should not cause any chronic effects on marine organisms.
BACs and EACs are available for the following chlorobiphenyls
BAC | EAC | |
CB28 | 0.22 | 1.7 |
CB52 | 0.12 | 2.7 |
CB101 | 0.14 | 3.0 |
CB118 | 0.17 | 0.6 |
CB138 | 0.15 | 7.9 |
CB153 | 0.19 | 40 |
CB180 | 0.10 | 12 |
Notes:
Two assessment criteria are used to assess the status of organo-bromine concentrations: the
BACs were developed within the Oslo and Paris Commission framework with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Mean concentrations significantly below the BAC are said to be near background.
FEQGs were developed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Concentrations below the FEQG should not cause any chronic effects on marine organisms.
The BACs and FEQGs are currently being used on a trial basis following deliberations at OSPAR MIME 2017 and 2018.
BACs and FEQGs are available for the following organo-bromines
BAC | FEQG | |
BDE28 | 0.05 | 110 |
BDE47 | 0.05 | 97.5 |
BDE66 | 0.05 | 97.5 |
BDE85 | 0.05 | 1 |
BDE99 | 0.05 | 1 |
BD100 | 0.05 | 1 |
BD153 | 0.05 | 1100 |
BD154 | 0.05 | 1100 |
BD183 | 0.05 | 14000 |
BD209 | 0.05 | 47.5 |
Notes:
The Swedish Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) is used to assess the status of TBSN+ concentrations. Concentrations below the EQS should not cause any chronic effects on marine organisms. The EQS is currently being used on a trial basis
EQS | |
TBSN+ | 0.8 |
Notes: