&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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