The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a prepublication Federal Register Notice styled:
Acute Aquatic Life Screening Values for 6PPD and 6PPD-Quinone in Freshwater (“Notice”).
6PPD and 6PPD-quinone (“6PPD-q”) have been found in freshwater eco systems originating from runoff related to automotive tire dust and debris.
6PPD-q is utilized to prevent vehicle tires from breaking down due to reactions with ozone and other reactive oxygen species in the air. Vehicle tire wear due to contact with roads releases particles into the environment. The movement of 6PPD-q into waterbodies has been deemed problematic because EPA studies indicate that it can be toxic to some fish.
EPA’s Office of Water has developed acute aquatic life screening values for two of the widely distributed rubber-tire associated compounds (i.e., 6PPD-quinone and 6 PPD).
The federal agency states that the screening values are based on the latest scientific knowledge about the two compounds’ toxicity to aquatic organisms. However, note that EPA states that data limitations do not allow it to derive recommended 6PPD-q water quality criteria for fresh, estuarine, and marine waters that follow the EPA’s Guidelines methods.
The screening values were derived in accordance with Section 304(a)(2). The stated purpose is to provide states, authorize Tribes, and provide stakeholders with the best available information on the toxicity of 6PPD-q to aquatic organisms. However, these are distinct from national recommended ambient water quality criteria issued in accordance with the provisions of Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act. The decision to forego national recommended ambient water quality criteria is stated to be due to limited empirical data for 6PPD-q.
A copy of the prepublication Federal Register Notice of availability can be found here.
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