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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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Ambient Air Quality Standards

MassDEP Ambient Air Toxics Guidelines 
Air & Climate Laws & Rules 
Open DOC file, 84.5 KB,  Allowable Threshold Concentrations (ATCs) - 1995 (English, DOC 84.5 KB)

Chemicals in Massachusetts Drinking Water: Standards & Guidelines

Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines 
Open PDF file, 346.98 KB,  2020 Standards and Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Waters (English, 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 
Open PDF file, 213.32 KB,  Immediate Action Levels for Water Treatment Plant Chemicals (English, PDF 213.32 KB)
Open PDF file, 364.89 KB,  Testing Requirements for Public Water Systems - Summary (English, PDF 364.89 KB)
Open PDF file, 30.05 KB,  Uranium Activity to Mass Conversion Factor Guideline for Use in Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring and Risk Assessment (English, PDF 30.05 KB)
Drinking Water Contaminants Information for the Public 

Cyanide

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

1,4-Dioxane

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

Dioxins & Furans

Open PDF file, 210.6 KB,  Dioxin Toxicity Equivalency Factors Final Policy Memo, April 17, 2025 (English, PDF 210.6 KB)

Emerging Contaminants

Information on MA's efforts to address emerging contaminants 

Lead

Open PDF file, 191.68 KB,  Ecological Risks of Lead Shot (English, 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 
Open PDF file, 16.15 KB,  Perchlorate Monitoring Results - Confirmed Above 1.0 ppb (English, PDF 16.15 KB)

Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Petroleum Hydrocarbons 

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

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  
Open PDF file, 437.81 KB,  Sampling and Analysis Guidance for PFAS at Disposal Sites Regulated under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (November 2023) (English, PDF 437.81 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 

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

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

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

Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

See Risk Assessment Information: Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)  

Tetrachloroethylene

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

Trichloroethylene

Open PDF file, 763.09 KB,  TCE Toxicity Information: Implications for Chronic and Shorter-Term Exposure - Fact Sheet (English, PDF 763.09 KB)
Open PDF file, 185.85 KB,  EPA Trichloroethylene Toxicity Values and ORS Recommendations Regarding Remediation Targets & Timeframes to Address Potential Developmental Risks (English, PDF 185.85 KB)
Open PDF file, 55.17 KB,  Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Residential Indoor Air (English, PDF 55.17 KB)
Open PDF file, 56.85 KB,  Important Information about Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Workplace Indoor Air (English, PDF 56.85 KB)
Open DOC file, 597.5 KB,  Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues (English, DOC 597.5 KB)
Open DOC file, 1.06 MB,  Addendum to the TCE Document Entitled _Assessing the Congenital Cardiac Toxicity of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues_ (English, DOC 1.06 MB)
Open PDF file, 151.69 KB,  Review of LSPA White Paper and Recent EPA Evaluations of Trichloroethylene - Cover Letter, February 19, 2025 (English, PDF 151.69 KB)
Open PDF file, 201.76 KB,  Review of LSPA White Paper and Recent EPA Evaluations of Trichloroethylene - ORS Memo, January 7, 2025 (English, PDF 201.76 KB)

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