Ecological Investigation Levels and Ecological Screening Levels Naomi Cooper (Ecotoxicologist) and Antti Mikkonen

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1 Ecological Investigation Levels and Ecological Screening Levels Naomi Cooper (Ecotoxicologist) and Antti Mikkonen 17 June

2 What we will run through EILs and ESLs definitions What has changed? When do I need to consider the EILs? What to do when an EIL is not provided in NEPM? What are the key concepts and how do I use EILs? Case Study 17 June

3 Case Study Site Scenario Historical Use: Former electroplating factory Proposed Use: Low density residential, with gardens 17 June

EILs and ESLs Definition Ecological investigation levels (EILs) Developed for selected metals and organic substances As, Pb, Cu, Ni, CrIII, Zn, DDT and naphthalene Depend on specific soil

4 EILs and ESLs Definition Ecological investigation levels (EILs) Developed for selected metals and organic substances As, Pb, Cu, Ni, CrIII, Zn, DDT and naphthalene Depend on specific soil physicochemical properties (Cu, Ni, CrIII and Zn) and land use scenarios. Generally apply to the top 2 m of soil. Ecological screening levels (ESLs) Developed for selected petroleum hydrocarbon compounds and total petroleum hydrocarbon fractions. BTEX, F1, F2, F3, F4, Benzo(a)pyrene Broadly apply to coarse and fine grained soils and various land uses Generally apply to the top 2 m of soil. 17 June

5 What has changed? The original NEPM (1999) had EILs but they have undergone a complete overhaul Now based on risk-based approaches - Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) model normalised for Australian soil conditions # of Rules # species, # trophic levels LOEC, EC30 data ANZECC 2000 methodology 60% Industrial level 80% Residential level 99% National Park level 17 June

Three levels of protection Area s of ecological significance (99%

6 What has changed? Soil characteristics EILs physiochemical properties ESLs soil structure Three levels of protection Area s of ecological significance (99% protection) Urban residential areas and public open space (80% protection) Commercial and industrial (60% protection) 17 June

7 What to do when a EIL/ESL is not provided in NEPM? The amended NEPM only provides 8 EILs and 9 ESLs Just because there is no EIL or ESL in the new NEPM does not mean it does not pose risk to ecological receptors What to do: Consider adopting screening criteria from other jurisdictions USEPA, CCME, Dutch Ecological Risk Assessment 17 June

8 When do I need to consider EILs/ESLs? EILs/ESLs will not apply to every site and situation A risk cannot occur unless a stressor (or source), pathway and receptor occur in the same place at the same time 17 June

9 ESLs Ecological Screening Levels 17 June

10 ESLs Ecological Screening Levels Data derived from Canadian Guidance for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in soil updates Coarse vs fine soils 17 June

11 ESLs * * 17 June

12 ESLs 8 X X X 17 June

13 EILs Ecological Screening Levels 17 June

14 What has changed? - EILs Scientific methodology = less criteria Dependent on the availability of toxicological research (and the quality of the research) 17 June

15 EILs Three types Three types of EILS - generic vs soil specific vs site specific Generic EILs based on land use only Soil-specific EILs - are specific for set of soil physicochemical properties; apply to all soils or sites that have same soil properties and same land use. Site-specific EILs - derived during a Definitive ERA; they are site-specific and may not apply to any other particular site. 17 June

16 EILs - Generic 17 June

17 EILs Generic Generic EILs: apply for arsenic, lead, naphthalene and DDT Table 1B(4) and 1B(5) EIL (mg total contaminant/kg) Chemical Age Areas of ecological significance Urban residential and public open space Commercial and industrial Arsenic Lead Fresh Aged Fresh Aged DDT Fresh/Aged Naphthalene Fresh/Aged Fresh contamination < 2 years old, aged contamination 2 years of age. 17 June

18 EILs Soil specific 17 June

19 EILs Soil Specific EILs = ABC + ACL ABC = ambient background concentration ACL = added contaminant limit 17 June

20 EILs Soil Specific ABCs Ambient Background Concentrations 17 June

21 Ambient Background Concentration (ABC) Three methods for determining the ABC are presented in Schedule B5b: 1. Preferred method is to measure the ABC at an appropriate reference site In situations where an appropriate reference site is not available use either: 2. The method based on urban metal levels in Olszowy et al. (1995) - aged 3. Or the geochemical method from Hamon et al. (2004) may be used - fresh 17 June

22 ABCs Hamon (fresh) Iron concentration is used to estimate background concentrations. Hamon uses the upper 95th percentile of site to calculate correlation plots for background metals. NEPM specifies that the 50th percentile of data should be used. Hamon s Regression Parameters for Metals Element Slope Coefficient As Co a Cr Cu Ni Pb Zn Geochemical correlation equation: Ni (mg/kg) 1000 Measure d [Ni] [ ] = (log[fe ] Slope) + constant Fe (%) 17 June

23 ABCs Olszowy (aged) Olszowy (et al) established background levels across Australia (four major cities) based on a stratified random sampling (of surface soils; mm). The study categorized findings by suburb age and traffic conditions. Old suburb = area where houses in general were > 40 years old New suburbs = areas in which houses were typically < 20 years old High traffic was defined by a site being within 50 m of a road where >250 cars pass by per hour (at peak hour traffic conditions) NOTE: The EIL calculator only uses the 25th % of old suburb background data. 17 June

24 EILs Soil Specific ACLs Added Contaminant Limits 17 June

25 Added Contaminant Limits (ACL) Fresh contamination Aged contamination 17 June

26 ACLs Used to calculate EILs Not all parameters included in Schedule B1 17 June

27 Key Concepts - How the ACL is determined Not as simple as choosing a number from a table A number of calculations are run depending on analyte and the minimum ACL is chosen from these B1 should be used just for a reference 17 June

28 Key Concepts ACL varies with input parameters 28

29 The EIL Calculator EIL calculator found at: Input site specific soil type parameters to derive ACL Input measured ABC or Iron % for fresh and state/traffic for aged EIL = ABC + ACL More on ABC and ACL at the training module Inputs Select contaminant from list below Cu Below needed to calculate fresh and aged ACLs Land use (mg contaminant/kg dry soil) Enter cation exchange capacity (silver thiourea method) (values from 0 to 100 cmolc/kg dwt) Fresh Aged 20 Enter soil ph (calcium chloride method) (values from 1 to 14) National parks and areas of high conservation value Enter organic carbon content (%OC) (values from 0 to 50%) Commercial and industrial Below needed to calculate fresh and aged ABCs Measured background concentration (mg/kg). Leave blank if no measured value or for fresh ABCs only Enter iron content (aqua regia method) (values from 0 to 50%) to obtain estimate of background concentration 7 or for aged ABCs only Enter State (or closest State) Urban residential and open public spaces Outputs Cu soil-specific EILs Outputs for fresh/aged EILs for 3 levels of protection NSW Enter traffic volume (high or low) low actual result June

30 Case Study 1- Case Study 5 from Schedule B1 Former Electroplating Factory (5 years ago) Low density residential, with gardens Stratigraphy: 0-1 m imported clay / soil fill of uniform characteristics. Imported prior to use. 1-2 m natural- Silty SAND, trace clay No contaminants of concern are expected greater than 2 m bgl. What are contaminants of concern? Aged or fresh contamination? Phase 2 soil sampling program included analysis for CEC, ph and % clay on: 10 samples from 0-1 m bgl (including 4 representative of background) 8 samples from 1-2 m bgl (including 4 representative of background) 17 June

31 Case Study 1- Case Study 5 from Schedule B1 Soil Sample Results Table 1: Soil Physical Properties Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content Table 2: Ambient Background Conditions ABC Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As Use NEPM Tables 1B(1 to 5). Check with Tool Box Calculator. 17 June

32 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables Generic values (Tables 1B(4) and 1B(5)) ACL (mg total contaminant/kg) Chemical Age Areas of ecological significance Urban residential and public open space Commercial and industrial Arsenic Lead Fresh Aged Fresh Aged DDT Fresh/Aged Naphthalene Fresh/Aged June

33 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables soil specific values Zn Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content Zn ph, CEC Table 1B(1) Depth 0-1m Zn ACL =?, Depth 1-2m Zn ACL =? 17 June

34 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables soil specific values Zn Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content Zn ph, CEC Table 1B(1) Depth 0-1m Cu ACL = 400, Depth 1-2m Cu ACL = June

Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables soil specific values Ni and Cr Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content 0-1 9 6 10 1.

35 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables soil specific values Ni and Cr Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content Ni CEC Cr - % clay Table 1B(3) Ni CrIII Depth 0-1m Ni ACL = 170 Depth 1-2m Ni ACL = 270 Depth 0-1m Cr ACL = 400 Depth 1-2m Cr ACL = June

36 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables soil specific values Cu Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) ph (ph units) % Clay (%) Organic Content Cu ph, CEC, OC Table 1B(2) Depth 0-1m Cu ACL = 190, Depth 1-2m Cu ACL = June

37 Case Study 1- Results ACL from NEPM tables ACL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As (EIL) Background Concentrations ABC Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As Soil Specific EIL = ACL + ABC EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As (EIL) June

38 Case Study 1 Using ASC Calculator Tool Soil Specific EILs calculated using the ASC EIL Calculation Spread Sheet 17 June

39 Case Study 1 Using ASC Calculator Tool EIL Calculation Spread Sheet vs Tables 1B(1) 1B(5) Calculator EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As Tables Values differ from manually calculated because: ASC spread sheet does not use rounded ACLs and does not round soil parameters rounds at the end Tables provided in NEPM does not account for organic content 17 June

40 Recap Ecological screening levels (ESLs) Broadly apply to coarse and fine grained soils and various land uses Ecological investigation levels (EILs) Depend on specific soil physicochemical properties and land use scenarios. Not applicable to all situations Don t rely on B1 EIL calculator more accurate than Schedule B1 tables 17 June

41 Questions? 17 June

42 Acknowledgements Thank you must go to the presentation co-author, Antii Mikkonen (Environmental Scientist, Golder Associates). Additional thanks also to Kirsten Broadgate (Principal Environmental Toxicologist, Golder Associates) for reviewing the presentation. 17 June

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