&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Office of Water
(MC-4304)
EPA-822-F-93-OOI
October, 1993
Fact Sheet
Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria
for Aniline
AUTHORITY
Ambient water quality criteria are published pursuant to Section 304(a) of the Clean Water
Act and may form the basis for enforceable standards if adopted by a State into water quality
standards. The criteria reflect the latest scientific knowledge on the identifiable effects of
pollutants on public health and welfare, aquatic life and recreation. They are developed
using a process described in the "Guidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality
Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses" (Stephan et aLT 1985).
BACKGROUND
Aniline (aminobenzene, benzenamine, phenylamine) occurs naturally in coal tars and is
manufactured through various chemical procedures. The major uses of aniline are in the
polymer, rubber, agricultural and dye industries. Aniline is used to manufacture
polyurethanes, antioxidants, antidegradants, vulcanization accelerators, and sulfa drugs
Aniline derivatives are used in herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, repellents, and defoliants.
Aniline has also been used as an antiknock compound in gasolines. Aniline is the simplest of
the aromatic amines (C6H5NH:t).
CRITERIA VALUES
Except where locally important species are
very sensitive:
* Freshwater aquatic organisms and
their uses should not be affected
unacceptably if the four-day
average concentration (i.e., chronic
exposure) of aniline does not
exceed 14 ug/1 more than once
every three years on the average
and if the one-hour average
concentration, (i.e., acute exposure)
does not exceed 28 ug/1 more than
once every three years on the
average, and
Saltwater aquatic organisms and
their uses should not be affected
unacceptably if the four-day
average concentration (i.e., chronic
exposure) of aniline does not
exceed 37 ug/1 more than once
every three years on the average
and if the one-hour average
concentration (i.e., acute exposure)
does not exceed 77 ug/1 more than
once every three years on the
average.
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IMPLEMENTATION INTO STATE
STANDARDS
Ambient water quality criteria may form
the basis for enforceable standards if
adopted by a State into water quality
standards. States may opt to develop site
specific criteria (Water Quality Standards
Handbook, December, 1983, EPA#:
440/5-83-011). Replacement of national
criteria with site specific criteria may
include site specific criterion
concentrations, mixing zone considerations
(Water Quality Standards Handbook,
December, 1983, EPA#: 440/5-83-011),
averaging periods and site-specific
frequencies of allowed exceedences
(Guidelines for Deriving Numerical
National Water Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their
Uses, Stephan etal.. 1985). When the
basis for site specific criteria relate to the
averaging period, there should be a
justification for why variability
assumptions underlying national criteria
are inappropriate.
AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENT
Copies of the proposed criteria document,
and other referenced documents, may be
obtained from the address below.
Aniline Proposal
Water Resource Center, (RC-4100)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20460
For further information please contact:
Mrs. Amy L. Leaberry
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Water Quality Criteria Section
(Mail Code - 4304)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
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