WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR SULFOLANE Prepared for: British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection Water Management Branch 3rd Floor, 2975 Jutland Road Victoria, B.C. V8T 5J9 Prepared by: Komex International Ltd. Suite 100 4500 16th Avenue NW Calgary, Alberta T3B 0M6 C52330100 OCTOBER 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................. i 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1 1.1 Scope of Work ..............................................................................................................1 1.2 Background...................................................................................................................1 1.3 Protocols .......................................................................................................................1 1.4 Toxicity Data ................................................................................................................2 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION............................................................................................2 2.1 Physical and Chemical Properties.................................................................................2 2.2 Analytical Methods.......................................................................................................3 2.3 Production and Uses .....................................................................................................4 2.3.1 Production .....................................................................................................4 2.3.2 Uses...............................................................................................................5 2.3.2.1 Extractive Solvent .........................................................................5 2.3.2.2 Gas Treating ..................................................................................6 2.3.2.3 Extractive Distillation Solvent ......................................................6 2.3.2.4 Polymer Solvent ............................................................................6 2.3.2.5 Polymer Plasticizer........................................................................7 2.3.2.6 Polymerization Solvent..................................................................7 2.3.2.7 Electronic and Electrical Applications ..........................................7 2.3.2.8 Miscellaneous Uses .......................................................................7 2.4 Levels in the Canadian Environment............................................................................8 2.5 Existing Guidelines and Criteria in Various Media......................................................8 2.6 Environmental Fate and Behavior ................................................................................9 2.6.1 Adsorption and Mobility...............................................................................9 2.6.2 Aqueous-Phase Solubility.............................................................................9 2.6.3 Leaching and Lateral Movement.................................................................10 2.6.4 Biodegradation ............................................................................................10 2.6.5 Volatilization...............................................................................................12 2.6.6 Photolysis ....................................................................................................12 2.7 Behavior and Effects in Terrestrial Biota ...................................................................13 2.7.1 Terrestrial Plants .........................................................................................13 2.8 Behavior and Effects in Aquatic Biota .......................................................................13 2.8.1 Freshwater Aquatic Life..............................................................................14 2.8.1.1 Aquatic Vertebrates .....................................................................14 2.8.1.2 Aquatic Invertebrates...................................................................14 2.8.1.3 Aquatic Plants..............................................................................14 2.8.1.4 Other Aquatic Biota.....................................................................14 2.8.2 Marine Life..................................................................................................15 2.8.2.1 Marine Vertebrates ......................................................................15 2.8.2.2 Marine Invertebrates....................................................................15 2.8.2.3 Marine Plants...............................................................................15 2.8.2.4 Other Marine Biota......................................................................15 2.9 Behavior and Effects in Mammalian Species and Humans........................................15 2.9.1 Mammalian Species ....................................................................................15 2.9.1.1 Acute Toxicity Studies ................................................................15 2.9.1.2 Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Studies...................................17 2.9.1.3 Genetic Toxicology Studies.........................................................19 2.9.1.4 Reproduction and Developmental Studies ..................................21 2.9.1.5 Absorption, Biotransformation, and Excretion............................21 2.9.2 Humans .......................................................................................................22 2.9.2.1 Acute Toxicity Studies ................................................................22 2.9.2.2 Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Studies...................................22 2.9.2.3 Genetic Toxicology Studies.........................................................22 2.9.2.4 Reproduction and Developmental Studies ..................................22 2.9.2.5 Absorption, Biotransformation, and Excretion............................22 3. DERIVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH SOIL AND WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES.........................................................................................................22 3.1 Freshwater Aquatic Life .............................................................................................22 3.1.1 Data Quality ................................................................................................23 3.1.2 Data Quantity ..............................................................................................23 3.1.3 Guideline Derivation...................................................................................24 3.2 Marine Aquatic Life....................................................................................................24 3.2.1 Data Quality ................................................................................................24 3.2.2 Data Quantity ..............................................................................................25 3.2.3 Guideline Derivation...................................................................................25 3.3 Irrigation .....................................................................................................................25 3.4 Livestock Watering.....................................................................................................27 3.4.1 Data Quality ................................................................................................27 3.4.2 Data Quantity ..............................................................................................27 3.4.3 Guideline Derivation...................................................................................28 3.5 Source Water for Drinking .........................................................................................29 3.5.1 Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI).......................................................................29 3.5.1.1 Selection of Study........................................................................30 3.5.1.2 Selection of Safety Factors ..........................................................30 3.5.1.3 Calculation of Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) ...............................31 3.5.1.4 Bioavailability .............................................................................32 3.5.2 Guideline Development ..............................................................................32 3.5.3 Dermal Contact Check ................................................................................33 3.6 Data Gaps....................................................................................................................34 3.6.1 Freshwater Aquatic Life..............................................................................34 3.6.2 Marine Aquatic Life....................................................................................34 3.6.3 Irrigation......................................................................................................35 3.6.4 Livestock Watering .....................................................................................35 3.6.5 Source Water for Drinking..........................................................................35 3.7 Summary of Water Quality Guidelines.......................................................................35