User Guide to Thresholds and Classification - Environmental ...

288User Guide for Thresholds and Classifications2 Minimum degrees of hazard(1) A substance with ecotoxic properties is not hazardous for the purposes of the Act unless—(a) the substance is ecotoxic to aquatic organisms because—i. data for the substance indicates that the fish LC50 is 100 milligrams or less of thesubstance per litre of water over a 96-hour exposure period, as a result of exposureto the substance; orii. data for the substance indicates that the crustacean EC50 is 100 milligrams or lessof the substance per litre of water over a 48-hour exposure period, as a result ofexposure to the substance; oriii. data for the substance indicates that the algal or other aquatic plant EC50 is 100milligrams or less of the substance per litre of water over a 72-hour or 96-hourexposure period, as a result of exposure to the substance; oriv. data for the substance indicates that the chronic fish NOEC, or chronic crustaceanNOEC, or algal or other aquatic plant chronic NOEC, is 1 milligram or less of thesubstance per litre of water, as a result of exposure to the substance; orv. in the absence of the NOEC data prescribed in subpara (iv) data for the substanceindicates that it is not rapidly degradable and is bioaccumulative.If data for the substance meet one or more of the above criteria, then the substance needs to be assigned anaquatic hazard classification.19.2.2. Aquatic hazard classification criteria for substancesSchedule 6 to the Hazardous Substances (Classification) Regulations 2001 specifies four classificationcategories for substances that are ecotoxic to the aquatic environment (subclass 9.1).A subclass 9.1 classification and the subsequent category apply to any substance that meets the followingcriteria.Category 9.1A – substances that are very ecotoxic in the aquatic environmentA substance for which data indicate an acuteper litre of water.Category 9.1B – substances that are ecotoxic in the aquatic environmentUnless the chronic aquatic ecotoxicity value is > 1 mg of the substance per litre of water, a substance—a. folitre of water; andb. that is not readily degradable or is bioaccumulative, or is not readily degradable and isbioaccumulative.Category 9.1C – substances that are harmful in the aquatic environmentUnless the chronic aquatic ecotoxicity value is > 1 milligram of the substance per litre of water, asubstance—January 2012 EPA0109