Quality Guidelines for Aluminium, Selenium, and D4’; Canadian Government Proposes

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has suggested federal environmental quality guidelines (FEQGs) for aluminum, selenium, and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4). For this, a draft has been set out for the threshold levels acceptable in the environment for these substances.

FEQGs have laid down concentration levels for these chemicals below which the government assumes that there is a low likelihood of adverse effects on aquatic life or animals in the food chain.

The use of these set guidelines is voluntary unless they are integrated into other regulations. However, they can be used in environmental monitoring, risk management as well as performance measures of these chemicals.

The ECCC has suggested an equation to calculate a site-specific FEQG for aluminum, based on a fresh water body’s level of dissolved oxygen, pH, and water hardness. For selenium, the department has set separate guideline values for fish egg ovary tissue (14.7µg/g), fish whole body tissue (6.7µg/g) and bird eggs (11µg/g). 

Suggested target for D4 in water is 0.2µg/L. 

Comments would be accepted on the proposed threshold by August 11.

Reference: Chemical Watch

Latest Update:  2021-06-15