United States
Environmental Protection
\r ^1 # ^Agency
Office of Water
EPA822 S 18 001
January 2018
EPA-Metals Associations Cooperative
Research and Development Agreement
Summary
EPA has entered into a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) with eight metals
associations in order to leverage the scientific
expertise and resources of scientists inside and
outside of the agency to better protect aquatic life.
All approaches and products developed through the
CRADA will be open for external peer review and
public comment.
EPA will work collaboratively with the metals
associations to develop a simplified modeling
approach that can predict the bioavailability and
toxicity of metals in the aquatic environment using
the most current science.
Using the resulting peer-reviewed modeling
approach, EPA plans to develop updated Aquatic Life
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for metals to better
support states, territories and tribes with criteria
that reflect the most current science and are easier
to implement than current approaches.
Background
EPA has recommended criteria for metals that were
developed over the last three decades. Current
science demonstrates that water chemistry
parameters (e.g., pH, dissolved organic carbon, and
hardness) can affect the toxicity of metals by
affecting the bioavailability of metals in the water to
aquatic species. Several criteria (Freshwater Copper,
Draft Saltwater Copper, and Draft Aluminum) have
already been updated to reflect these relationships.
Approach:
EPA plans to leverage the expert knowledge of
scientists in the following eight organizations: the
Aluminum Association, Aluminum REACH
Consortium (ARC), Cobalt Institute, International
Copper Association, Copper Development
Association, International Lead Zinc Research
Organization, International Zinc Association, NiPERA
Inc., and to complete this work in two phases.
Phase I - Development of a common modeling
approach to predict the bioavailability of metals
During this phase the collaborators will:
¦	Compare the accuracy and usability of a
variety of modeling approaches for predicting
bioavailability and toxicity of metals to
aquatic organisms under various
environmental conditions. This work will
consider the range of water chemistry
parameters needed to predict metals toxicity
to aquatic life.
¦	Identify a uniform approach for predicting
bioavailability and toxicity of metals to
aquatic organisms.
¦	Submit the uniform modeling approach to
external scientific peer review and solicit
public comments.

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Phase II - Development of models to predict the
bioavailability and toxicity of specific metals
¦ Once a uniform modeling approach is
identified and externally-peer reviewed, EPA
will work with the metals associations to
develop and optimize the models for specific
metals.
EPA plans to use the models developed under this
agreement to update and develop Aquatic Life
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for metals.
Where can I find more information?
For more information on this CRADA please contact
Kathryn Gallagher at Gallagher.Kathryn@epa.gov
and visit our page: Aquatic Life Criteria and Methods
for Toxics.

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