Ecological Investigation Levels and Ecological Screening...

17 June 2014 1

Ecological Investigation Levels and Ecological Screening Levels

Naomi Cooper (Ecotoxicologist) and Antti Mikkonen

What we will run through

n EILs and ESLs definitions

n What has changed?

n When do I need to consider the EILs?

n What to do when an EIL is not provided in NEPM?

n What are the key concepts and how do I use EILs?

n Case Study

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Case Study

n Site Scenario

n Historical Use: Former electroplating factory

n Proposed Use: Low density residential, with gardens

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EILs and ESLs Definition

n Ecological investigation levels (EILs)

n Developed for selected metals and organic substances

n As, Pb, Cu, Ni, CrIII, Zn, DDT and naphthalene

n Depend on specific soil physicochemical properties (Cu, Ni, CrIII and Zn) and land use scenarios.

n Generally apply to the top 2 m of soil.

n Ecological screening levels (ESLs)

n Developed for selected petroleum hydrocarbon compounds and total petroleum hydrocarbon fractions.

n BTEX, F1, F2, F3, F4, Benzo(a)pyrene

n Broadly apply to coarse and fine grained soils and various land uses

n Generally apply to the top 2 m of soil.

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What has changed?

n The original NEPM (1999) had EILs but they have undergone a complete overhaul

n Now based on risk-based approaches - Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) model normalised for Australian soil conditions

n # of Rules

n # species, # trophic levels

n LOEC, EC30 data

n ANZECC 2000 methodology

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60% Industrial level

80% Residential level

99% National Park level

What has changed?

n Soil characteristics

n EILs – physiochemical properties

n ESLs – soil structure

n Three levels of protection

n Area’s of ecological significance (99% protection)

n Urban residential areas and public open space (80% protection)

n Commercial and industrial (60% protection)

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What to do when a EIL/ESL is not provided in NEPM?

n The amended NEPM only provides 8 EILs and 9 ESLs

n Just because there is no EIL or ESL in the new NEPM does not mean it does not pose risk to ecological receptors

n What to do:

n Consider adopting screening criteria from other jurisdictions

n USEPA, CCME, Dutch

n Ecological Risk Assessment

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When do I need to consider EILs/ESLs?

n EILs/ESLs will not apply to every site and situation

n A risk cannot occur unless a stressor (or source), pathway and receptor occur in the same place at the same time

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ESLsEcological Screening Levels

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ESLs

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n Ecological Screening Levels

n Data derived from Canadian Guidance for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in soil

n updates

n Coarse vs fine soils

ESLs

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**

ESLs

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8 X

1.4

1.4

X

X

EILsEcological Screening Levels

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What has changed? - EILs

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n Scientific methodology = less criteria

n Dependent on the availability of toxicological research (and the quality of the research)

EILs – Three types

n Three types of EILS - generic vs soil specific vs site specific

n Generic EILs – based on land use only

n 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.

n Site-specific EILs - derived during a Definitive ERA; they are site-specific and may not apply to any other particular site.

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EILs - Generic

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n Generic EILs: apply for arsenic, lead, naphthalene and DDTn Table 1B(4) and 1B(5)

n Fresh contamination < 2 years old, aged contamination ≥ 2 years of age.

EILs – Generic

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EIL (mg total contaminant/kg)

Chemical AgeAreas of ecological

significanceUrban residential and

public open spaceCommercial and

industrial

ArsenicFresh 40 100 160

Aged 40 100 160

LeadFresh 110 270 440

Aged 470 1100 1800

DDTFresh/Aged

3 180 640

Naphthalene Fresh/Aged 10 170 370

EILs – Soil specific

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EILs – Soil Specific

EILs = ABC + ACL

ABC = ambient background concentration

ACL = added contaminant limit

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ABCsAmbient Background Concentrations

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Ambient Background Concentration (ABC)

n Three methods for determining the ABC are presented in Schedule B5b:

1. Preferred method is to measure the ABC at an appropriate reference site

n 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

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ABCs – Hamon (fresh)

n Iron concentration is used to estimate background concentrations.

n Hamon uses the upper 95th percentile of site to calculate correlation plots for background metals.

n NEPM specifies that the 50th percentile of data should be used.

Hamon’s Regression Parameters for Metals

n Geochemical correlation equation:

� � � [� ] = (log[Fe� � � � � ] × Slope) + constant

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Element Slope Coefficient

As 0.574 0.507

Coa 0.894 -1.409

Cr 0.750 1.242

Cu 0.612 0.808

Ni 0.702 0.834

Pb 1.039 0.118

Zn 0.589 1.024 1

10

100

1000

0.1 1 10

Ni (m

g/K

g)

Fe (%)

Measured [Ni]

ABCs – Olszowy (aged)

n Olszowy (et al) established background levels across Australia (four major cities) based on a stratified random sampling (of surface soils; 0-150 mm).

n The study categorized findings by suburb age and traffic conditions.

n Old suburb = area where houses in general were > 40 years old

n New suburbs = areas in which houses were typically < 20 years old

n 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)

n NOTE: The EIL calculator only uses the 25th % of “old suburb” background data.

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ACLsAdded Contaminant Limits

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Added Contaminant Limits (ACL)

Fresh contamination

Aged contamination

n Used to calculate EILs

n Not all parameters included in Schedule B1

ACLs

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Key Concepts - How the ACL is determined

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n Not as simple as choosing a number from a table

n A number of calculations are run depending on analyte and the minimum ACL is chosen from these

n B1 should be used just for a reference

Key Concepts – ACL varies with input parameters

28

The EIL Calculator

InputsSelect contaminant from list below

Cu Land use

Below needed to calculate fresh and

aged ACLs (mg contaminant/kg dry soil)

Enter cation exchange capacity (silver

thiourea method) (values from 0 to 100

cmolc/kg dwt) Fresh Aged

20

National parks and areas of

high conservation value75 85

Enter soil pH (calcium chloride method)

(values from 1 to 14)

9

Enter organic carbon content (%OC)

(values from 0 to 50%)Commercial and industrial 180 320

1

0

10

Below needed to calculate fresh and

aged ABCs 75 85

Measured background concentration

(mg/kg). Leave blank if no measured

value 130 230

or for fresh ABCs only 180 320

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)

NSW

Enter traffic volume (high or low)

low actual result 72.8041516 86.986992

Outputs

Urban residential and open

public spaces130 230

Cu soil-specific EILs

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n EIL calculator found at:

http://www.scew.gov.au/node/941

n Input site specific soil type parameters to derive ACL

n Input measured ABC

n or Iron % for fresh

n and state/traffic for aged

n EIL = ABC + ACL

n More on ABC and ACL at the training module

n Outputs for fresh/aged EILs for 3 levels of protection

Case Study 1- Case Study 5 from Schedule B1

Former Electroplating Factory (5 years ago) – Low density residential, with gardens

Stratigraphy:

n 0-1 m imported clay / soil fill of uniform characteristics. Imported prior to use.

n 1-2 m natural- Silty SAND, trace clay

n No contaminants of concern are expected greater than 2 m bgl.

n What are contaminants of concern? Aged or fresh contamination?

n Phase 2 soil sampling program included analysis for CEC, pH and % clay on:

n 10 samples from 0 - 1 m bgl (including 4 representative of background)

n 8 samples from 1- 2 m bgl (including 4 representative of background)

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Case Study 1- Case Study 5 from Schedule B1

Soil Sample Results

Table 1: Soil Physical Properties

Table 2: Ambient Background Conditions

n Use NEPM Tables 1B(1 to 5). Check with Tool Box Calculator.17 June 2014 31

Depth (m bgl)

CEC (cmol/kg)

pH (pH units) % Clay (%) Organic Content

0-1 9 6 10 1.0

1-2 17 6.5 12 0.4

ABC Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As

0-1 4 65 2 7 44 18

1-2 1.5 8 0.5 10 24 13

Case Study 1- Results

n ACL from NEPM tables – Generic values (Tables 1B(4) and 1B(5))

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ACL (mg total contaminant/kg)

Chemical AgeAreas of ecological

significanceUrban residential and

public open spaceCommercial and

industrial

ArsenicFresh 40 100 160

Aged 40 100 160

LeadFresh 110 270 440

Aged 470 1100 1800

DDTFresh/Aged

3 180 640

Naphthalene Fresh/Aged 10 170 370


n ACL from NEPM tables – soil specific values Zn

n Zn – pH, CEC

n Table 1B(1)

n Depth 0-1m Zn ACL = ?, Depth 1-2m Zn ACL = ?

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Depth (m bgl) CEC (cmol/kg) pH (pH units) % Clay (%) Organic Content

0-1 9 6 10 1.0

1-2 17 6.5 12 0.4


n ACL from NEPM tables – soil specific values Zn

n Zn – pH, CEC

n Table 1B(1)

n Depth 0-1m Cu ACL = 400, Depth 1-2m Cu ACL = 590

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0-1 9 6 10 1.0

1-2 17 6.5 12 0.4


n ACL from NEPM tables – soil specific values Ni and Cr

n Ni – CEC

n Cr - % clay

n Table 1B(3)

n Ni n Depth 0-1m Ni ACL = 170

n Depth 1-2m Ni ACL = 270

n CrIIIn Depth 0-1m Cr ACL = 400

n Depth 1-2m Cr ACL = 400

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0-1 9 6 10 1.0

1-2 17 6.5 12 0.4


n ACL from NEPM tables – soil specific values Cu

n Cu – pH, CEC, OC

n Table 1B(2)

n Depth 0-1m Cu ACL = 190, Depth 1-2m Cu ACL = 210

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0-1 9 6 10 1.0

1-2 17 6.5 12 0.4


n ACL from NEPM tables

n Background Concentrations

n Soil Specific EIL = ACL + ABC

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ACL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As (EIL)

0-1 190 400 170 400 1100 100

1-2 210 590 270 400 1100 100

EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As (EIL)

0-1 194 465 172 407 1100 100

1-2 211.5 598 270.5 410 1100 100

ABC Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As

0-1 4 65 2 7 44 18

1-2 1.5 8 0.5 10 24 13

Case Study 1 – Using ASC Calculator Tool

Soil Specific EILs calculated using the ASC EIL Calculation Spread Sheet

http://www.scew.gov.au/node/941

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Case Study 1 – Using ASC Calculator Tool

n EIL Calculation Spread Sheet vs Tables 1B(1) – 1B(5)

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EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As

0-1 180 430 130 400 1100 100

1-2 110 600 240 430 1100 100

n Values differ from manually calculated because:

n ASC spread sheet does not use rounded ACLs and does not round soil parameters à rounds at the end

n Tables provided in NEPM does not account for organic content

EIL Depth Cu Zn Ni Cr (III) Pb As

0-1 194 465 172 407 1100 100

1-2 211.5 598 270.5 410 1100 100

Calculator

Tables

Recap

n Ecological screening levels (ESLs)

n Broadly apply to coarse and fine grained soils and various land uses

n Ecological investigation levels (EILs)

n Depend on specific soil physicochemical properties and land use scenarios.

n Not applicable to all situations

n Don’t rely on B1

n EIL calculator more accurate than Schedule B1 tables

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Questions?

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Acknowledgements

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n 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.

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