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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 & Climate Laws & Rules 
Ambient Air Toxics Guidelines (PDF 292.45 KB)
Allowable Threshold Concentrations (ATCs) - 1995 (DOC 84.5 KB)

Chemicals in Massachusetts Drinking Water: Standards & Guidelines

Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines 
2020 Standards and Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Waters (PDF 346.98 KB)
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 (PDF 213.32 KB)
Testing Requirements for Public Water Systems - Summary (PDF 364.89 KB)
Uranium Activity to Mass Conversion Factor Guideline for Use in Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring and Risk Assessment (PDF 30.05 KB)
Drinking Water Contaminants Information for the Public 

Cyanide

Background Documentation: Development of an "Available Cyanide" Benchmark Concentration (PDF 131.47 KB)

1,4-Dioxane

FAQs: 1,4-Dioxane: What you need to know about 1,4-dioxane in Drinking Water 
Fact Sheet: Guidance on Sampling and Analysis for 1,4-Dioxane at Disposal Sites Regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (PDF 298.38 KB)

Dioxins & Furans

Assessment & Control of Dioxin in Massachusetts (PDF 423.54 KB)
Re-evaluation of the Toxicity Equivalency Factors for Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PDF 91.76 KB)

Emerging Contaminants

Information on MA's efforts to address emerging contaminants 

Lead

Ecological Risks of Lead Shot (PDF 191.68 KB)
Is there lead in my tap water? 

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 
Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines: MTBE 

Naphthalene

Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines: Naphthalene 

Percholorate

Approved Perchlorate Laboratories 
Perchlorate Background Information and Standards 
Perchlorate Monitoring Results - Confirmed Above 1.0 ppb (PDF 16.15 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 Massachusetts Contingency Plan (October 2020) (PDF 426.35 KB)

Revised guidance regarding when and how to sample and analyze for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (together, PFAS) at disposal sites regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (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 MMCL for PFAS6 (PDF 83.59 KB)

The MassDEP Office of Research & Standards Guideline for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This is an update for October 2020.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 
Development of a PFAS Drinking Water Standard (MCL) 

Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

See Risk Assessment Information: Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)  

Tetrachloroethylene

Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) Inhalation Unit Risk Value - June 2014 (DOC 405.5 KB)
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) Inhalation Unit Risk Value Appendices - June 2014 (DOC 844.5 KB)
Summary of the Basis of Cancer Risk Values for Tetrachloroethylene - January 2014 (PDF 83.92 KB)
Revised MassDEP Cancer Unit Risk for Tetrachloroehtylene - September 2008 (PDF 354.97 KB)
Appendices to Revised MassDEP Cancer Unit Risk for Tetrachloroehtylene - September 2008 (PDF 35.39 KB)

Trichloroethylene

TCE Toxicity Information: Implications for Chronic and Shorter-Term Exposure - Fact Sheet (PDF 763.09 KB)
EPA Trichloroethylene Toxicity Values and ORS Recommendations Regarding Remediation Targets & Timeframes to Address Potential Developmental Risks (PDF 185.85 KB)
Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Residential Indoor Air (PDF 55.17 KB)
Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Workplace Indoor Air (PDF 56.85 KB)
Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues (DOC 597.5 KB)
Addendum to the TCE Document Entitled _Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues_ (DOC 1.06 MB)
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