&EPA
United Slates
Environmental Protection
Agency	
Office of Water
(4304)
EPA-822-F-93-007
October, 1993
                    Fact  Sheet

                    Sediment Quality  Criteria  for the Protection  of
                    Benthic  Organisms:  Dieldrin
        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
        dieldrin 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

        Dieldrin was one of the most widely  used chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides prior to its
        cancellation in  1974. Aldrin, which quickly transforms to dieldrin, was used in even greater
        quantity than dieldrin until its cancellation, also in 1974.  Both chemicals were pnmanty
        used to control insect pests, originally on corn and  later on citrus fruits.  (CAS No. 60-57-1)
        CRITERIA VALUES

        *      Freshwater benthic organisms
               should not be affected unacceptably
               if the concentration of dieldrin in
               the sediment never exceeds
               11
         *     Saltwater benthic organisms should
               not be affected unacceptabley if the
               concentration of dieldrin in the
               sediment never exceeds 20 ug/g^.

         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

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from the address below.

Sediment Quality Criteria for the
Protection of Benthic Organisms:
Dieldrin (EPA-822-R-93-015)

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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