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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
Allowable Threshold Concentrations (ATCs) - 1995, Open DOC file, 84.5 KB (English, 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, Open PDF file, 346.98 KB (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
Immediate Action Levels for Water Treatment Plant Chemicals, Open PDF file, 213.32 KB (English, PDF 213.32 KB)
Testing Requirements for Public Water Systems - Summary, Open PDF file, 382.51 KB (English, PDF 382.51 KB)
Uranium Activity to Mass Conversion Factor Guideline for Use in Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring and Risk Assessment, Open PDF file, 30.05 KB (English, PDF 30.05 KB)
Drinking Water Contaminants Information for the Public

Cyanide

Background Documentation: Development of an "Available Cyanide" Benchmark Concentration, Open PDF file, 131.47 KB (English, 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, Open PDF file, 298.38 KB (English, PDF 298.38 KB)

Dioxins & Furans

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

Emerging Contaminants

Information on MA's efforts to address emerging contaminants

Lead

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

Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Petroleum Hydrocarbons

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

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

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

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

Trichloroethylene

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

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