Summary of saltwater sediment guidelines adopted for List II metals by VROM and Environment Canada (from Grimwood and Dixon 1997)

 

Canadian Guidelines1

Dutch (VROM)

Metal

TEL (mg kg-1 dry weight)

PEL (mg kg-1 dry weight)

Limit Values2 (mg kg-1 dry weight)

Lead

30.2

112

530

Chromium

52.3

160

380

Zinc

124

271

480

Copper

18.7

108

36

Nickel

15.9

42.8

35

Arsenic

7.2

41.6

55

Vanadium

nv

nv

nv

Boron

nv

nv

nv

Iron

nv

nv

nv

Notes:

1. Effects based Guidelines. Expressed as bulk sediment concentrations

2. Guidelines based on equilibrium partitioning (N.B. Particularly unsuitable for metals). Expressed for a standard sediment consisting of 5% organic carbon

nv no value

TEL Threshold effects level

PEL Probable effects level

References