SCHEER - Scientific Opinion on "Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive"-Heptachlor including heptachlor epoxide

SCHEER WG on Water Framework Directive
SCHEER members: Marian Scott (Chair), Marco Vighi (Rapporteur), Thomas Backhaus, Teresa Borges, Peter Hoet, Pim de Voogt, Rodica Mariana Ion
External experts: Andrew Johnson, Jan Linders
Contact:SANTE-SCHEERec [dot] europa [dot] eu ( SANTE-SCHEER[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Adopted on: 22 December 2022

The dossier on Environmental Quality Standards for “Heptachlor including heptachlor epoxide” is reviewed by the SCHEER according to the general mandate on EQS dossiers.

In the dossier only the biota sections 7.2 (Secondary poisoning) and 7.3 (Human health) have been updated according to the recent Technical Guidance and to information available after 2011.

For secondary poisoning a QS_{Biota, sec pois, fw} = 0.029 mg kg^-1_ww (29 μg kg^-1_ww) is calculated, converted to water concentration as QS_{water, biota} = 3.7x10^-4 μg L^-1 (0.37 ng L^-1). The QSs are endorsed by the SCHEER.

For the marine environment, to protect top predators, a QS_{biota, secpois, sw} = 7.6x10^-4 mg kg^-1 (0.76 μg kg^-1) is calculated, converted to water concentration as QSsw, biota = 9.7x10^-6 μg L^-1 (9.7x10^-3 ng L^-1 or 9.7 pg L^-1). The QSs are endorsed by the SCHEER.

For human health via consumption of fishery products, a virtually safe dose (VSD) of 1.1 10-7 mg kg bw -1 d-1, for carcinogenic effects, is used. A QS_{biota, hh}=1.35 x 10^-2 μg kg^-1_biota (to be rounded to 1.4 x 10^-2μg kg^-1_biota or 14 ng kg^-1_biota) is derived, converted to water concentration as QS_{water biota hh} = 1.7x10^-7 μg L^-1 (0.17 pg L^-1). The QSs are endorsed by the SCHEER.

For human health via consumption of drinking water, the general drinking water standard for pesticides (QS_dw,hh = 0.1 μg L^-1) is proposed. The SCHEER agrees.

The most critical EQS is identified as the QS_{water biota hh} =0.17 pg L^-1.

Keywords:

Heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, Water Framework Directive, environmental quality standards

Opinion to be cited as:

SCHEER (Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks), Final Opinion on Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive - heptachlor, 22 December 2022.