&EPA
Uaited States
Environmcnul F'rotection
Agency	
Office of Water
(4304)
EPA-822-F-93-003
October, 1993
                   Fact  Sheet

                   Sediment Quality  Criteria  for the Protection of
                   Benthic Organisms:  Phenanthrene
       AUTHORITY

       Sediment 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 present the U.S. EPA's best recommendation of the concentration of
       phenanthrene that may be present in sediment while still protecting benthic organisms from
       its effects.  They are developed using an approach described in the  "Technical Basis for
       Deriving Sediment Quality  Criteria for Nonionic Organic Contaminants for the Protection of
       Benthic Organisms by using Equilibrium Partitioning" (EPA-822-R-93-011).

       BACKGROUND

       Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon naturally present in coal and petroleum,
       and having some industrial uses. It is also formed as a combustion product.
       (CAS No. 85-01-8)
       CRITERIA VALUES

       *     Freshwater benthic organisms
             should not be affected unacceptably
             if the concentration of phenanthrene
             in the sediment never exceeds
             180 U
              Saltwater benthic organisms should
              not be affected unacceptabley if the
              concentration of phenanthrene in
              the sediment never exceeds
              240
        IMPLEMENTATION INTO STATE
        STANDARDS

        Sediment 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 (Guidelines for Deriving Site-
                                Specific Sediment Quality Criteria for the
                                Protection of Benthic Organisms, EPA-
                                822-R-017).  Replacement of national
                                criteria with site specific criteria may be
                                necessary if (1) species at the site are more
                                or less sensitive than those included in the
                                national criteria data set or (2) the
                                sediment or chemical quality
                                characteristics at that site alter the
                                bioavailability and consequently the
                                toxicity of the sediment bound chemical
                                predicted by Equilibrium Partitioning
                                (EqP).

                                AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENT

                                Copies of the criteria document, and other
                                referenced documents, may be obtained
                                from the address below.

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Sediment Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Benthic Organisms:
Phenanthrene (EPA-822-R-93-014)

Water Resource Center,  (RC-4100)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20460

For further information please  contact:

Ms. Mary C. Reiley
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Ecological Risk Assessment Branch
(Mail Code - 4304)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460

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