UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                     GUIDANCE FROM HOTLINE COMPENDIUM
                                                                           WSGH34
                                                             Date Issued:  August 1991
SUBJECT:   Health Advisory for Zinc

SOURCE:    Bob Cantilli
             (202) 260-5546
The chemical zinc has a draft health advisory listed in the CSD April 1991 Health Advisory
Summary Table and is regulated as a secondary contaminant (found in 40 CFR 143.3).
Chemicals regulated as secondary contaminants are regulated as such because of aesthetic
reasons (taste, smell, color) rather than health based reasons.  Why then, does a chemical
regulated as a secondary contaminant, have a draft health advisory?

      Response:

      A number of chemicals have health advisories even though they may never be regulated
      for health based reasons. Zinc was listed on the original list of 83  contaminants to be
      regulated in the 1986 SDWA amendments.  The no-observed-adverse-effect level for
      zinc is so high that this chemical will probably not be regulated.  It was replaced on the
      original list of 83 for this reason.

-------