WASHINGTON NEL

Washington NEL Sediment Quality Standards (WAC 172-204-320) are used as a sediment quality goal for Washington state sediments. These are “no effects” level values. No effects means a concentration that does not result in acute or chronic adverse effects to biological resources relative to reference [WAC 173_204_200(3)] and does not result in significant human health risk. The listed criteria for organics other than phenol, 2-methyl phenol, 4-methyl phenol, 2,4-dimethyl phenol, benzyl alcohol, and benzoic acid represent concentrations "normalized" on a total organic carbon basis. To normalize to total organic carbon, the dry weight concentration is divided by the decimal fraction representing the percent total organic carbon content of the sediment. The value for Low Molecular Weight PAHs (LPAH) applies to the sum of concentrations of Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, and Anthracene. The value for High Molecular Weight PAH’s (HPAH) applies to the sum of Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benz(a)anthracene, Chrysene, total Benzofluoranthenes, Benzo(a)pyrene, Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and Benzo(g,h,i)perylene. Total Benzofluoranthenes represents the sum of the b, j, and k isomers.

Washington Department of Ecology, Sediment Management Unit, Sediment Quality Chemical Criteria, updated 8/9/2001 – http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/smu/sed_chem.htm