Assessing the relevance of atmospheric heavy metal deposition with regard to ecosystem integrity and human health in Germany

Environmental Sciences Europe

Table 26 Comparison of insignificance threshold values for the metal concentration in leachate [65] with the critical total concentrations in leachate used in this study

	Critical concentration used			Insignificance thresholds^e
	Ecosystem protection		Drinking water protection^h	Ecosystem and drinking water protection
		µg l⁻¹			µg l⁻¹
As	PNECⁱ	70^a	10	Base value^f	3.2
Cr(III)	NOEC^j	44^b	50	Ecotoxicological impact threshold^f	3.4
Cu	PNEC	1-50^c	2000	Base value^g	5.4
Ni	NOEC	25-700^c	–	Base value^g	7
Zn	NOEC	20-90^c	–	Base value^g	60
Pb	NOEC	0.08-71.5^c	10	Ecotoxicological impact threshold^f	1.2
Cd	NOEC	0.43–7.16^c	3	Base value^g	0.3
Hg	NOEC	0.058–17.4^c	1	Base value^g	0.1

^aDoyle et al. [50] in Reinds et al. [33]
^bCrommentuijn et al. [96] in Reinds et al. [33]
^cWHAM modeling results [97]
^dReinds et al. [33]
^eZeddel et al. [65]
^fEcotoxicological impact threshold < human toxicological impact threshold
^gThe lower value based on ecotoxicity was below the base value, so that the JRC is reported at the level of the base value
^hDrinking Water Ordinance for Germany [38]
ⁱPredicted no-effect concentration = the predicted concentration of a substance that is normally dangerous to the environment and up to which no effects on the environment are observed
^jNo Observed Effect Concentration = corresponds to the highest exposure concentration of a substance in subchronic or chronic studies at which no statistically significant effect can be observed