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4 medium willi minimum requirements of water quality. 11m ma)or consideration H that dw water ecMity be relatively low to prevent corrosion of equipment. However, many operations require use of large quan tities of water with quality requirements relating to Impurity, type, and level. These operations are froth dotation, mine dump leaching, and secondary oil re cowry. Water quality requirements needed for the manufacture of esmant are minimal, the document said. The msjor consideration is tbs alkali content of procere water. Water Heieurees MAS SAVt KNOWLEDGE OF LOCALITIES ESSENTIAL TO APPLICATION OF STAN0AROC Knowledge of k>csl environmental conditions is esseniisl prior to ^plication of any water quality recom mendations for marine aquatic life and wildlife, according to a National Acadamy of Sciences' draft of "Water Quality Criteria - 1972" (Environment Reporter, August 10, p. 588 and August 17, p. 669). The NAS document dealt wtth maintenance of the marine ecosystem, fisheries, aquaculture, wildlife pro tection, and waste disposal. In developing recommenda tions. NAS alio considered the effects of transportation, harbor development, dredging, and dumping of spoils. NAS said application of recommendations to a local situation Is unique, because it requires an undemanding of the circulation of water and the resultant mixing and dilution of pollutants, a knowledge of biological specks, and determination of the most sensitive species, and an evaluation of the transport of materials through the food web Water Quality Change The Introduction of a chemical compound or a change in the physical environment can affect a natural marine ecosystem in several ways, the report said. These changes includt reduction in the input of solar energy into the ecosystem, an incieaM in the input of organic matter and nutrients that might stimulate growth of undekrabk species, and reduction in the avrelability of nutrients by increased sorption and sedimentation. Changes also cm create intolerable physical extremes for some organisms, kill or reduce the success of in dividual organkms, eliminate species, reduce specks diver sity, decream btamass, or increate biomass. Fisherk* General requirements for wstcr quality in relation to successful fisheries include favorable environmental con ditions at every location, which la required in the Ufe history of each specks; freedom from tainting substances; absence of toxic conditions or substances; and absence of sublethel dekterious conditions. Further, there should be water sufAcknt to maintain the health of the biologicN systems, which support useAil species, and absence of environmental conditions, which are eacaptionafly fevorabk to parasites, predators, and companion of urefisi specks. Aquaculture Aquaculture is heavily dependent on high water quali ty. according to the NAS report. Genera) recommendations for the quality of water for use in culture include continuously adequate control of those materials and conditions, which are required for good health md efficient production of (he species and absence of deleterious chemical and physical conditions. Other recommendations included environmental stabili ty and prevention of introduction of diseases. NAS said specific requirements for each culture effort must he wtlh reference to the specks involved, the densities desired, md the operational design of the culture system. NAS said it is difficult to assess the potential yield from marine aquaculture, dependent as it is on a primitive art undergoing rapid technological development However, introduction of present methods into new, undeveloped parti of the worid could at least double the present harvest within the next 1C years, the report said. Marine WMdlHe NAS said its recommendations for marine wildlife include all criteria formulated to protect fish, inver tebrate, and plant communitks because wildlife can only be adequately protected, if the diversity and integrity of food webs are maintained. Further, these recommenda tions must protect wildlife from poHuiants that are relatively persistent in the environment, transported by wind or water currents, and concentrated or recycled in food webs. The report said the recommendations to protect wild life dependent on fresh water ecosystems riao may apply to estuaries. NAS said it is not practical to make recommendations fot the relatively persistent organic pollutants bleed on water concentrations, especially when partition coef ficients are unknown. Therefore, recommendations for the toxic organic compounds that are trophkally accumulated by marine wildlife ere based on concentrations in ftdt. NAS recommendations for marine wildlife are re fol lows: In the absence of data indicating (hat radionuclides released by human activities are accumulated by wildlife specks, recommendations established for marine Ash aod invertebrates also should apply to wildlife. In the absence of data indicating that heavy metals are present in marine wildlife in concentrations above nature! levels, recommendations formulated to protect other marine organisms should apply. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in any sampk consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole Ash of any specks that is consumed by fish-eating birds and mammals, within the same site range as the fidt con sumed, should be no greater than .5 milligram per kilngram (mg/kg) of the wet weight. DDT concentrations in any sampk consisting of s homogenate of 25 or more fish of any specks that is consumed by IWi-eating birds rod maninds, within the same size range as the fkh consumed, drould be no greater than 50 mfcrogramVkg of the wal wat^it. The sum of the concentrations of aldrht, dkMrin, Environment Reperter MONS 086670 < t < CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS endrin, aid hepiachkir in any sample consisting of a homopnatc of 25 oc mm: whole fish of my tptciei that ta consumed by Ml-a4in| birds and mammals, within thi lice rang! consumed* by my bird or maanmai, should bt no gitaiar thai Avt mtcrogrami/kg of the wet weight- The concentration of my chlorinated hydrocarbons, including lindane, chlotdane, endoauifan, methoxychlor, mirex, toxaphenc, and hexachiorobenzene, in my sample consisting of a homogenate of 25 or more whole Rah of my specks that it consumed by fob-eating bitds and mammals, within the size rmge that is consumed by my bird or manmal, diould be no greater dim SO micro* gnmWhg of the wet weigh*. To reduce the incidence of lead poisoning fresh water and marine waterfowl, NAS recommended diet nontoxic shot be used or diet no further lead dtot be introduced into zones of shot deposition if lead shot concentrations exceed one shot per four square feet in the top two inches of sediment. NAS said the characteristics of a receiving body of water must be considered when evaluating the effects of my pollutant upon the environment. Mixing Zones The report said that miring zones should be considered on a caae-by-case basis, because each proposed site in volves a unique set of pertinent considerations. These include the nature, quantity, and concentration of ef fluent material; the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the mixing area and receiving waters; and the desired uaes of the waters. However, the academy's general recommendation waa that the total time-toxicity exposure history diould not causa deleterious effects in affected populations of im portant species, including the post-exposure effects. Categories of Pothitents For temperature. NAS said the recommendations in cluded in the report on fresh water appear to ba valid for estuarine md marine waters as well. However, additional studies are needed on the temperature tolerances of species directly involved: Inorganics The NAS recommendations for inorganic chemicals, including heavy metab md pH are aa follows: The normal range of pH in either direction should not be extended by more than .2 units. Within the normal rmge. the pH diould not vary by more than .5 unit. Addition of foreign materiel should not drop the pH below 6.5 or raise it above 8.5. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour lethal concentration (LC0. median) data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to aluminum. Concentrations of aluminum exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/1) constitute a heard and concentrations lea than .2 mg/I preant minfand risk of deleterious effecu. Ar application factor of .1 diould be applied to marine %-honr LC| data for the appropriate organisms most ssnsitive to anmonia. Concentrations of un-ioned vn> monia equd to or cxceedirg .4 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations lea than 01 mg/I preant minimal risk of delaarious effects. An application facto: of .02 should be applied to 701 marine 96-hour LCfa data for the appropriate organisms most ansitrve to antimony Concentrations of antimony equal to or exceeding 2 mg/1 constitute a hazard. Data are not available for recommending a concentration which would present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .01 dtould be applied lo marine .96-hour LCj* data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to arsenic. Concentrations of arsenic equd to or exceeding .05 mg/I constitute a hazard and concen trations less than .01 mg/1 present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application factor of 05 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCj* data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to bsrium. Concentrations of barium equd to or exceeding one mg/I constitute s hazard and concen trations less than S mg/I present minimal risk of deleter ious effects. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC* data for the appropriate otgamana most sensitive to beryllium. Concentrations of berylhim equal to or exceeding 1.5 mg/I constitute a hazaid and concentrations less than .1 mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of boron equd to or exceeding five mg/I constitute a hazard aid concentrations leas that five mg/I present minimal risk of deleterious effects. An application factor of .1 wa recommended for boron compounds applied to marine 96-hour LC** data for sea water. Free bromine in the marine environment should not exceed I mg/1 and ionic bromine in the form ofbromate should not exceed 100 mg/I. An ^plication factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCj0 data for appropriate organisms moat sensitive to cadmium. Concentrations of cadmium equd to or exceeding 0( mg/1 constitute a hazard and concen trations less than .2 microgram per liter present minimal risk of deleterious effects. In the presence of copper and/or zinc at one mg/I, the application factor for cadmium should be lower by at least one order of magnitude. Cadmium criteria for aquatic life diould also apply to wildlife. An application factor of I should be applied to marine 96-hour LCjo data from sea water bioassays for the moat sensitive species to be protected from chlorine. Free residud chlorine in sea water in excess of .01 mg/1 can be hazardous to marine life. However, in the absence of data, it is premature to advance recommendations. An application factor of .01 diould be applied to marine 96-hour LC*0 data for the appropriate organisms most sensitive to chromium. Concentrations of chromium equal to or exceeding .1 mg/I constitute a hazard and concentrations less than 05 mg/t present minimal risk of deleterious effects. In oyster areas, concentrations diould be maintained at teas than .01 mg/t. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LCj data for the appropriate organisms moat sensitive to copper. Concentrations of copper equd lo or exceeding .05 mg/l constitute a hazard and concen trationa lea than .01 mterognms per liter present minimaI risk of deleterious effects. Capyrtfht 1973 by THa Bureau i Netlenel Aifatrt, Inc. M0NS 086679 ENVIRONMENT REPORTER CyenMas An application factor of. I should b applied to marine 96-hour LC data for the appropriate organisms moat wnsitive to cyanide. Concentrations of cyanide equal to or exceeding .01 mg/l constitute a hwaid and concentra tions less thwi 005 mg/l present minimal risk of deleterioui effects. An application factor cf . I should be applied to marine 96-hour LC( data for the appropriate oiganrims most sensitive to fluoride. Concentrations of fluoride equal to or exceeding t.S mg/l constitute a hazard and concentra tions lea than .5 mg/l present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations qf iron equal to or exceeding .3 mg/l constitute a heard and concentrations lea than .05 present minimal risk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of lead in sea water should not exceed 02 of the 96-hour LC$o fo- the most sensitive species and the 24-hour average concentration should not exceed .01 or the 96-hour LC|0. Concentrations of lead equal to or exceeding .05 mg/l constitute a heard and concentra tions less than .01 mg/l present minimal risk of deleteri ous effects. Special efforts should be made to reduce lead concentrations even forther in oyster-growing area. An ^plication factor of 02 of the 96-hour LC for the organtans most sensitive to manganese wa recom mended. Concentrations of 1 mg/l may constitute s heard and concent rations of leas than .02 mg/l pieant minimal risk. Concentrations of mercury equal to or exceeding .10 microgrsms per titer constitute s haaid. Recommend* tions ettabtidied to protect aquatic life and public water supplies deo should apply to wildlife. Concentrations of molybdenum in wa wrier diould not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LCS for the most sensitive species and the 24-hour average should not exceed .02 of the 96-hour LC. An qtplication factor of 02 should ba applied to 96-hour LCj date on the o-ganoms most sensitive to nickel. Concentrations of nickel in excea of .1 mg/l would pose a hazard and concentrations of .002 mg/l would pose minimd risk. _ An qtplication factor of .0) should be applied to marine 96-hour LC data fo; the appropriate organisms most wnsitive to elementdl phosphorus. Concentrations equal to or exceeding one nrierogram per liter constitute a hazard. An application factor of .01 should be appUed to marine 96-hour LC,f data for appropriate organisms moat sensitive to selenium. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing 01 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than 005 mg/l prewnt minimal nsk of deleterious effects. Concentrations of silver in marine water should not exceed 05 of the 96-hour ICJ# for the most sensitive species. Concentrations equal to or exceeding five micro grams pei liter constitute a hazard and concentrations lew than one microgram per liter p csent minimal risk. An application factor of I ih nild be applied to marine 96-hour LC, data for the appropriate organisms most sansitive to sulfide. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .01 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations lea thai .005 mg/l prewnt minimal risk, if tha pH ia maintained within a range of 6.5 to 8.5. Because of the chronic effect of long-term exposure of fish to thallium, tests should be conducted for at leat 20 days on sensitive species. Techniques should measure circulatory disturbances and other sublethal effects. Con centrations equal to or exceeding .1 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .05 mg/l present minimal risk. An application factor of .01 should be qtplied to marine 96-hour LC#* data for the appropriate organisms most wnsitive to uranium. Concentrations equal to or exceeding .5 mg/l constitute a hazard and concentrations less than .1 mg/l present minimal risk Concentrations of vtnadium in wa water ihotrid not exceed .05 of the 96-hour LCla for the most sennirvt species. An application factor of .01 should be applied to marine 96-hour LC data for the appropriate organisms most wnsithre to zinc. Concentrations equal to or exceed ing I mg/l constitute a hazaid and concentrations leaa than .02 mg/l prawnt minimal risk. Oil in Sea Water NAS said no oil or petroleum products that can be detected as a visible film, rheen. or discoloration of the surface, that can be detected by odor, that can cauaa tainting of fish or edible invertebrates or damaga tha biota, or that can form an oil deposit on the shorn or bottom of the receiving body of water should be dis charged into estuarine or coastal waters. Accidental releases of oil to the marine environment should be reclaimed or treated as expeditiously as possible using procedures at least equivalent to those provided in the 1970 National Contingency Plan. To protect marine wildlife, a monitoring program should follow long-term trends in petroleum tar accumula tion in wlected areas of the oceans, no oil exploration or drilling should be permitted within existing or proposed sanctuaries, paifcs, rewrves or other protected areas, and oil exploration or drilling should not be conducted in a manner which could deletertouaty affect species subject to interstate or international agreements. To minimize damage to the marine biota, oil on the wa surface should be contained by booms and recovered by uw of surface skimmers or similar techniques and oil on beaches should be mechanically removed using straw, peat moss, or other qipropriate techniques that will produce minimal adverse effects on the biota. In the event of a tanker wreck, oil remaining in the hulk should be off loaded. Failing recovery of oil from the wa surface or from a wrecked tanker, efforts should be made to bum it in place Dispersants of minimal possible toxicity should be used only when necessary to avoid even greater hazard to the environment. NAS did not recommend sinking of oil. NAS said the concentration of radioisotopes in wa water should be low enough so that the concentration in any marine species will not exceed the Federal Radiation Council's radiation protection guides for otenants har vested for uw m human food. This itconwnandfeion is baaed on the assumption that radiation concentrations. HONS 056680 CURRENT OCVfLOFMSN*. which an acceptable as humm food, win not injur* aquatic otganlama, Including wtttflifc. iMript and Nutrlantl NAS uid mttulH or treated munlcipN sewage die* ritatfss should be '*cogn!zed aa a major source of toxic mbataneai. Recommendations for theta pollutants will limit foe mount of sew*' effluent that can be dispersed Into estuaries. Reduced degradation rates of highly dbpanad matarlab foouttf be considered if the effluent oontaHw refractory ojanlc material. NAS aald that while undegradable synthetic organic compounds do not cense oxypsn depletion, they can adusrealy aflbet an ecosystem. Specific quantitative anilysat foould be done to identify end ram the abundmee of then eompounds. The addition of my orgenic waste to the marine environment should be controlled to avoid decomposition which would reduce the oxygen content of the water below limits recommended for oxygen. Further, neither oiganie matter nor fertilizers should be added that will Induce production of organic matter by normal biota to an extent causing an inersaaa in tha siaa of any natural anoxic zone In the deeper waters of m estuary. NAS tdd the natural ratios of available nitrogen to totri phosphorus foould be evaluated under each condi tion and the element actually limiting plant production SonM be determined. Dbpnd of sludge into corataJ waters should be recognized as a temporary practice, became such dumping can adversely effect aquatic o^anisme. NAS said disposal of OQanic wastes into the deep sea is not recommended until ftirther studies op their fete, on their effect on fauna, and on the controllability of such a procaduie have been conducted. The study said (hat disposal of waste materials at sea should be controlled. Disposal foould be permitted only when reieonable evidence is presented that the proposed elkm will not seriously dwnags the marine biota. Inter fere with Mieries operations or other urn* of the marine environment, or cause heaaidi to human health and welfare. . Dredging In connection with dredging operations or other phyafcri modification of harbors end estuaries which would Increase the suspended sediment load, NAS made vsrai recommendations. These included evaluation of the rings and types of particles to be resuspended and trsnrported, where they will settle, and what substratum changer or modification! could be created by proposed aethitles In both the dredged and dhposri areas. NAS also iteommended determination of tha biological activity of the water column, the sediment-water interfeai, and tha subatrete material to depths which contain burrowing organisms; estimation of the potential sillera brio the water column of sediments; end setebHdtmewt of the expected relationship between properties of the sus pended load md the permanent raridant paries of the am and their ability t-> rvpopulete the area and the tnmltofy ipecies which uae the arte only at certain nanus of the year. m Water Wwowni NAS REPORT URGES STRINGENT METHODS TO CONTROL WASTE INPUTS, LAND DRAINAGE More stringent methods to control and/or treat watte Inputs and land drainage should bt applied to Improve water qorilty as demand for uae Increaaea, according lo the National Academy of Sciences* draft of "Water Quali ty Criteria - 1972." NAS said that another general recommendation, which would apply to wide variety of receiving systems and pollutants, it that conrideration ihodl be given to provid ing reserve capacity In recognition of the Hmtiotione of water quality management programs. Further, bioeneys and other appropriate tests should be made to obtain scientific evidence on the effect of waste water dbehatges on the environment end a survey of receiving systems should be made on a regular beris to aueis the Impact of discharges on the biofopeal com munity. Fresh Water Life NAS said that sr. eaaantial objective of fresh water quality is the protection of fish and other aquatic organlams for sport or commercial harvesting. Althoufo water quality characteristics in mixing zones can differ from those in raceiring systems, to protect uses bt both regions mixing zones should be free of materials vhidi form objectionable deportts; floating debris, scum. o$ and other matter; substances producing objectionable color, odor, taste, ur turbidity; md conditions which produce objectionable growth of mrisence plants and animals. NAS said mixing zone characteristics foould be defined on a case-by-case barts to avoid potential btotogKrt damage or interference with olhei uses of a receiving system, litis action should be taken only after determina tion that tha assimilative capacity of the receiving system can safely accommodate the dbcharps. To protect populations of nonmobile benthic and sesrtle organisms in mixing zonaa, NAS recommended that the area of their habitat exposed to watsr quality poorer than recommended receiving system qualify be minimized by discharge design. An ^tentative would be to define Intermittent time exposure history reletionihips for the otpidsim* well-being. To protect drifting and both weak and strong swim ming organisms in mixing zonae, NAS recommended that scientifically valid data be developed to demonstrate that (he organisms can survtva the integrated time exposure history bssed on maximum expected residence time NAS said application factors riiould be incorporated into trioassay extrapolation procedures to provide an adequate margin of safety vfocn summations of short-term exposure ate developed. When two plumes are contiguous or overlap and syn tactic effects do not occur, NAS arid aquatic Hfe dtotdd be protected if the sum of the fractions of Integrated time expoaure effects for each plume If the total is equal lo or less than J. Alternatively, protection should be provided If the turn of foe fractions for both plumes la equal to or leas than am. Cepyrtph* Wl by The Nvw ! Neti**et Allel's, ln. MQNS 086602