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SCHEER - Scientific Opinion on "Draft Environmental Quality Standards for Priority Substances under the Water Framework Directive" - Nickel and its compounds

Final Opinion

Description

SCHEER WG on Water Framework Directive
SCHEER members: Marian Scott (Chair), Marco Vighi (Rapporteur), Thomas Backhaus, Teresa Borges, Raquel Duarte Davidson, Peter Hoet, Pim de Voogt, Rodica Mariana Ion
External experts: Andrew Johnson, Jan Linders
Contact: SANTE-SCHEERatec [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 “Nickel” is reviewed by the SCHEER according to the general mandate on EQS dossiers.

The proposed dossier is based on an EU RAR (2008) and a previous EQS dossier (2011) updated by inclusion of more recent data and according with the 2018 EQS Technical Guidance.

The probabilistic MAC-QSfw,eco= 8.2 μg L-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER. The same value is proposed for marine water. However, it is the opinion of the SCHEER that these values should be revised using BLMs for the bioavailability normalisation.

The probabilistic AA-QSbioavailable, fw = 1.9 μg L-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER.

The probabilistic AA-QS sw,eco = 3.1 μg L-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER in absence of suitable BLMs for the marine environment.

The probabilistic QS fw, sed = 22 mg kgdw-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER. The same value is proposed for marine water.

For secondary poisoning, the QSbiota, secpois, fw = 8.9 mg kg-1ww for fish and 2.6 mg kg-1ww for bivalves are endorsed by the SCHEER. However, the SCHEER notes several mistakes in the text of the dossier.

The QSbiota, hh food =1.6 mg kgbiota-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER. The back calculation to water is not performed due to uncertainties on the definition of BAF.

The existing European drinking water standard of 20 μg L-1 is endorsed by the SCHEER.

The most critical EQS has been identified as the AA-QSbioavailable, fw = 1.9 μg L-1.

Keywords:

Metals, nickel, 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 - nickel and its compounds, 22 December 2022.

Files

22 DECEMBER 2022
scheer_o_050.pdf
English
(299.37 KB - PDF)
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