Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines for Aluminum, Selenium & Siloxane-D4
Federal environmental quality guidelines for Siloxane-D4, Selenium, and Aluminum were published. Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines (FEQGs) provide thresholds of acceptable quality in the ambient environment. They are based solely on the toxicological effects or hazards of specific substances or groups of substances. FEQGs serve three functions: first they can be an aid to prevent pollution by providing targets for acceptable environmental quality; second, they can assist in evaluating the significance of concentrations of chemical substances currently found in the environment (monitoring of water, sediment and biological tissue); and third, they can serve as performance measures to assess the effectiveness of risk management actions for the chemical substance.
FEQG for Aluminium
This factsheet describes the Federal Water Quality Guideline (FWQG) for the protection of aquatic life from adverse effects of aluminium (Al) in freshwaters and is based on total aluminium
FEQG for Selenium
This factsheet describes the federal tissue quality guidelines for the protection of fish and birds for selenium. FEQGs are not developed for the water, sediment or soil compartments; however, recent water-based guidelines developed in North America are summarized.
FEQG for Siloxane-D4
This factsheet describes the FEQGs for water, sediment, aquatic biota tissue, and wildlife diet to protect aquatic life and mammalian consumers of aquatic life from adverse effects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) (Table 1). It is largely based on the data found in the screening assessment published under Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (Environment Canada, Health Canada (EC, HC) 2008)) as well as additional data and information identified up to January 2018.
Performance Measurement Evaluation for DEHP
The performance measurement evaluation for DEHP was published. EHP was first assessed by the Government of Canada in 1994, where it was found to be a possible carcinogenic risk to Canadians. Risk management tools [Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (2009), the Phthalates Regulations (2011), reporting of DEHP content under the Medical Devices Regulations (2008), and provisions under the Food and Drugs Act (1985)] were established to help reduce DEHP exposures to the general population of Canada in these products.
The performance measurement evaluation concluded that the risk management tools are meeting their intended goals. Biomonitoring data collected from 3 cycles (2007 to 2017) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) shows that Canadians’ exposure to DEHP has progressively decreased since risk management tools were implemented.
The evaluation recommends ongoing measurement of DEHP in the CHMS and monitoring of the Phthalates Regulations. Ongoing reporting of DEHP concentrations in medical devices is also recommended.
Complete details on the performance measurement evaluation for DEHP can be found in the Performance Measurement Evaluation for Risk Management of Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Health Component.
