Canadian Council of Ministers
of the Environment

Le Conseil canadien des ministres
de l'environnement
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Benz(a)anthracene

Synonyms and/or acronyms: PAHs
Parameter 1: ORGANIC
Parameter 2: Polyaromatic compounds
Parameter 3: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Water Quality for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Further documentation on these guidelines can be found in the Canadian Environment Quality Guidelines.
 Download Factsheet

Freshwater

Concentration (µg/L)

 0.018

Interim guideline.

Date

 1999

Marine

Concentration (µg/L)

 Insufficient data

Date

 1999

Water Quality for the Protection of Agriculture

Irrigation

Concentration (µg/L)

 No data

Date

 No data

Livestock

Concentration (µg/L)

 No data

Date

 No data

Sediment Quality for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Further documentation on these guidelines can be found in the Canadian Environment Quality Guidelines.
 Download Factsheet

Freshwater

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) - ISQG

 31.7
Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL ISQG % ≥ PEL
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)      
Benz(a)anthracene 13 6 38
Benzo(a)pyrene 11 16 30
Chrysene 8 14 25
Fluoranthene 8 23 49
Phenanthrene 4 17 44
Pyrene 7 16 32

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) - PEL

 385
Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL ISQG % ≥ PEL
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)      
Benz(a)anthracene 13 6 38
Benzo(a)pyrene 11 16 30
Chrysene 8 14 25
Fluoranthene 8 23 49
Phenanthrene 4 17 44
Pyrene 7 16 32

Date

 1998

Marine

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) - ISQG

 74.8
Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL ISQG % ≥ PEL
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)      
Acenaphthene 8 29 57
Acenaphthylene 7 14 51
Anthracene 9 20 75
Benz(a)anthracene 9 16 78
Benzo(a)pyrene 8 22 71
Chrysene 9 19 72
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene 16 12 65
Fluoranthene 10 20 80
Fluorene 12 20 70
2-Methylnaphthalene 0 23 82
Naphthalene 3 19 71
Phenanthrene 8 23 78
Pyrene 7 19 83

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) - PEL

 693
Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL ISQG % ≥ PEL
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)      
Acenaphthene 8 29 57
Acenaphthylene 7 14 51
Anthracene 9 20 75
Benz(a)anthracene 9 16 78
Benzo(a)pyrene 8 22 71
Chrysene 9 19 72
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene 16 12 65
Fluoranthene 10 20 80
Fluorene 12 20 70
2-Methylnaphthalene 0 23 82
Naphthalene 3 19 71
Phenanthrene 8 23 78
Pyrene 7 19 83

Date

 1998

Soil Quality for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

Further documentation on these guidelines can be found in the Canadian Environment Quality Guidelines.
 Download Factsheet

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) - Agricultural

 Consult Factsheet

Consult the 2008 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons factsheet, or the 2008 PAH Scientific Supporting Document (http://www.ccme.ca/publications/ceqg_rcqe.html?category_id=125) for guidance.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) - Residential / parkland

 Consult Factsheet

Consult the 2008 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons factsheet, or the 2008 PAH Scientific Supporting Document (http://www.ccme.ca/publications/ceqg_rcqe.html?category_id=125) for guidance.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) - Commercial

 Consult Factsheet

Consult the 2008 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons factsheet, or the 2008 PAH Scientific Supporting Document (http://www.ccme.ca/publications/ceqg_rcqe.html?category_id=125) for guidance.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) - Industrial

 Consult Factsheet

Consult the 2008 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons factsheet, or the 2008 PAH Scientific Supporting Document (http://www.ccme.ca/publications/ceqg_rcqe.html?category_id=125) for guidance.

Date

 2008

Tissue Residue Quality for the Protection of Widlife Consumer of Aquatic Biota

Concentration (µg/kg diet wet weight)

 No data

Date

 No data