Regulatory Determinations for Pollutants in Biosolids
The tables summarize the regulatory determinations for pollutants found in biosolids and the limits associated with those pollutants. For more complete information, please refer to the references of the full regulatory determinations.
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Regulatory Determination and Pollutant Limits for Land Applied Sewage Sludge
| Pollutant | Ceiling concentration (milligrams per kilogram)1 | Cumulative pollutant loading rate (kilograms per hectare)2 | Monthly average concentrations (milligrams per kilogram)3 | Annual pollutant loading rate (kilograms per hectare per 365-day period)4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 75 | 41 | 41 | 2.0 |
| Cadmium | 85 | 39 | 39 | 1.9 |
| Copper | 4300 | 1500 | 1500 | 75 |
| Lead | 840 | 300 | 300 | 15 |
| Mercury | 57 | 17 | 17 | 0.85 |
| Molybdenum5 | 75 | - | - | - |
| Nickel | 420 | 420 | 420 | 21 |
| Selenium | 100 | 100 | 100 | 5.0 |
| Zinc | 7500 | 2800 | 2800 | 140 |
| Dioxins and Dioxin-like Compounds | In 2003, the EPA made a determination not to regulate dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in land applied sewage sludge. View the final action not to regulate (PDF). | |||
Regulatory Determination and Pollutant Limits for Surface Disposed Sewage Sludge
| Pollutant | Pollutant Concentrations Active Sewage Sludge Unit Without a Liner and Leachate Collection Concentration (milligrams per kilograms)6 |
|---|---|
| Arsenic | 73 |
| Chromium | 600 |
| Nickel | 420 |
| Dioxins and Dioxin Like Compounds | In 2001, the EPA made a determination not to regulate dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in sewage sludge that is incinerated or placed on a surface disposal site. View the final action not to regulate. |
| Pollutant Concentrations Active Sewage Sludge Unit Without a Liner and Leachate Collection System that has a Unit Boundary to Property Line Distance Less Than 150 Meters7 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pollutant | 0-less than 25 meters to property line (mg/kg) | 25 to less than 50 meters to property line (mg/kg) | 50 to less than 75 meters to property line (mg/kg) | 75 to 100 meters to property line (mg/kg) | 100 to less than 125 meters to property line (mg/kg) | 125 to less than 150 meters to property line (mg/kg) | |
| Arsenic | 30 | 34 | 39 | 46 | 53 | 62 | |
| Chromium | 200 | 220 | 260 | 300 | 360 | 390 | |
| Nickel | 210 | 240 | 270 | 320 | 390 | 420 | |
| Dioxins and Dioxin Like Compounds | In 2001, the EPA made a determination not to regulate dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in sewage sludge that is incinerated or placed on a surface disposal site. View the final action not to regulate. | ||||||
Regulatory Determination and Pollutant Limits for Incinerated Sewage Sludge
Six pollutants are regulated in incinerated sewage sludge by 40 CFR Part 503. There are pollutant limits for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and total hydrocarbons which is in part based on risk specific concentrations developed by the EPA. For more information, please visit 40 CFR Part 503 Subpart E – Incineration.
1 Table 1 of 40 CFR § 503.13 – Ceiling Concentrations
2 Table 2 of 40 CFR § 503.13 – Cumulative Pollutant Loading Rates
3 Table 3 of 40 CFR § 503.13 – Pollutant Concentrations
4 Table 4 of 40 CFR § 503.13 – Annual Pollutant Loading Rates
5 The Part 503 rule was amended on February 25, 1994. The amendment made two changes. It deleted pollutant limits for molybdenum in biosolids applied to land but retained the molybdenum ceiling limits.
6 Table 1 of 40 CFR § 503.23 – Pollutant Concentrations Active Sewage Sludge Unit Without a Liner and Leachate Collection
7 Table 2 of 40 CFR § 503.23 – Pollutant Concentrations Active Sewage Sludge Unit Without a Liner and Leachate Collection System That Has a Unit Boundary to Property Line Distance Less Than 150 Meters