Critical Load/Level Values

5 to 250 µg/l

Status
Environmental Assessment Level (EAL)
Habitat/Ecosystem Type
Freshwater ecosystems
Description

EALs have been set for protection of salmonid and cyprinid waters at 4 different water hardness concentrations. All values are expressed as dissolved chromium:

  • Salmonids Hardness 0-50 mg/l CaCO3-5 µg/l
  • Salmonids Hardness 50-100 mg/l CaCO3-10 µg/l
  • Salmonids Hardness 100-200 mg/l CaCO3-20 µg/l
  • Salmonids Hardness >200mg/l CaCO3-50 µg/l
  • Cyprinid Hardness 0-50 mg/l CaCO3-150 µg/l
  • Cyprinid Hardness 50-100 mg/l CaCO3-175 µg/l
  • Cyprinid Hardness 100-200 mg/l CaCO3-200 µg/l
  • Cyprinid Hardness >200mg/l CaCO3-250 µg/l
Reliability
reliable i.e. a number of published papers of various studies show comparable results
CL reference
Water and the Environment. Circular 7/89