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Research & Standards
Mercury, Lead & Other Toxics

Chemical Research & Standards

For complying with regulatory requirements, such as managing industrial emissions, cleaning up contaminated properties or providing clean drinking water.
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Table of Contents

Ambient Air Quality Standards

Air Quality Regulations & Standards 
Ambient Air Toxics Guidelines (PDF 292.45 KB)
Allowable Threshold Concentrations (ATCs) - 1995 

Chemicals in Massachusetts Drinking Water: Standards & Guidelines

2019 Standards and Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Waters (PDF 282.02 KB)
2019 Drinking Water Standards & Guidelines 
DWP's Use of MCLs, Office of Research and Standards Drinking Water Guidelines for Drinking Water (ORSGs) and US EPA Health Advisory (HA) Levels 
Immediate Action Levels for Water Treatment Plant Chemicals  
Testing Requirements for Public Water Systems - Summary 
Uranium Activity to Mass Conversion Factor Guideline for Use in Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring and Risk Assessment 
SEE ALSO: Fact sheets, FAQs, and external resources for contaminants in drinking water 

Cyanide

Background Documentation: Development of an "Available Cyanide" Benchmark Concentration 

1,4-Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane 

Dioxins & Furans

Assessment & Control of Dioxin in Massachusetts 

1991 - Revised toxicity equivalence factors (TEFs) used with the dioxin air quality guideline.

Re-evaluation of the Toxicity Equivalency Factors for Dioxins and Dibenzofurans 

Emerging Contaminants

Emerging Contaminants  

Lead

Ecological Risks of Lead Shot  
Is There Lead In My Tap Water and What Can I Do About It? 

Methyl t-Butyl Ether (MTBE)

Justification for Decreasing the ORS Guideline for MTBE in Drinking Water from 0.7 mg/l to 0.07 mg/l 
Current Regulatory Limit: MTBE 

Naphthalene

Current Regulatory Limit: Naphthalene 

Percholorate

Drinking Water Standard for Perchlorate  
Perchlorate Sampling Requirements for Public Water Systems  
Final MCP Numerical Standards for Perchlorate  
Response to Comments on the Public Hearing Draft of Perchlorate Regulations  
ORS US Senate Testimony on Perchlorate 
US Senate Followup Questions on Perchlorate 
MassDEP Response to EPA's Preliminary Regulatory Determination on Perchlorate 
ORS Comments on Inspector General's Perchlorate Analysis  
Environmental Health Perspectives: Basis of the Massachusetts Reference Dose and Drinking Water Standard for Perchlorate 
Federal Register Summary of Perchlorate Effects 
MassDEP Comments to EPA on Perchlorate  
Addressing Perchlorate and Other Emerging Contaminants in Massachusetts 
Fireworks Best Environmental Management Practices  
Letter to Certified Labs Regarding Perchlorate Testing 
Perchlorate Toxicological Profile & Health Assessment - June 2006 
Addendum to the Perchlorate Toxicological Profile & Health Assessment - June 2006  
Letter to Public Water Suppliers Concerning New Perchlorate Regulations  
Perchlorate Fact Sheet for Public Water Suppliers 
Evaluation of Perchlorate Contamination at a Fireworks Display: Dartmouth, Massachusetts 
The Occurrence and Sources of Perchlorate in Massachusetts  
Perchlorate Monitoring Results - Confirmed Above 1.0 ppb 
Approved Perchlorate Laboratories and Related Information 
Perchlorate Report  
Potential Environmental Contamination from the Use of Perchlorate-Containing Explosive Products (PDF 284.38 KB)

Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Petroleum Hydrocarbons 

PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances including PFOS and PFOA)

Interim Guidance on Sampling and Analysis for PFAS at Disposal Sites Regulated under the MCP (PDF 777.18 KB)

This Fact Sheet, prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup (BWSC), provides guidance regarding when and how to sample and analyze for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (together, PFAS ) at disposal sites regulated under the MCP.

Program to Remove Legacy Firefighting Foams from Fire Department Stockpiles 

MassDEP Office of Research & Standards Final Recommendations for PFAS Toxicity Guidance (PDF 513.22 KB)

A detailed analysis of the data supporting ORS’s recommended guideline for PFAS in drinking water. June 8, 2018.

MassDEP ORS Guideline for PFAS (PDF 101.25 KB)

The MassDEP Office of Research & Standards Guideline for per- and polyfluoroalyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The regulatory limit is 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of 5 PFAS compounds. June 8, 2018.

See Also: Fact sheets, FAQs, and external resources for contaminants in drinking water 
PFAS Information: A petition for rulemaking to establish a treatment technique drinking water standard for PFAS 

Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)  

Tetrachloroethylene

Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) Inhalation Unit Risk Value - June 2014 
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) Inhalation Unit Risk Value Appendices - June 2014 
Summary of the Basis of Cancer Risk Values for Tetrachloroethylene - January 2014  
Revised MassDEP Cancer Unit Risk for Tetrachloroehtylene - September 2008  
Appendices to Revised MassDEP Cancer Unit Risk for Tetrachloroehtylene - September 2008  

Trichloroethylene

TCE Toxicity Information: Implications for Chronic and Shorter-Term Exposure - Fact Sheet  
EPA Trichloroethylene Toxicity Values and ORS Recommendations Regarding Remediation Targets & Timeframes to Address Potential Developmental Risks pdf format of TCE Developmental Risk Targets & Timeframes doc format of TCE Dev 
Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Residential Indoor Air  
Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Workplace Indoor Air  
Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues  
Addendum to the TCE Document Entitled “Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues”  
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