Zinc

Chemical Groups: Inorganic, Metals

Also Known As:

CASRN: 7440-66-6

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) Equation

The short-term benchmark is for dissolved zinc and is calculated using the following equation: Benchmark = exp(0.833[ln(hardness mg·L-1)] + 0.240[ln(DOC mg·L-1)] + 0.526). 

The benchmark equation is valid between hardness 13.8 and 250.5 mg CaCO3·L-1 and DOC 0.3 and 17.3 mg·L-1, which is the range of data used to derive the hardness and DOC slopes. Extrapolations should not be made above the upper hardness limit of 250.5 mg CaCO3·L-1 or above the upper DOC limit of 17.3 mg·L-1. For hardness below 13.8 mg CaCO3·L-1 or DOC below 0.3 mg·L-1, where users want a more stringent benchmark, they should extrapolate with caution and contact their local authority for advice. The short-term benchmark is for dissolved concentrations of zinc. Where guideline users have only water sample concentrations of total zinc, they should first compare these samples to the dissolved benchmark, and where there is an exceedance, re-sample for a dissolved concentration. Guidelines are expressed as two significant figures.

Please note that some values returned by the calculator may be rounded down and may not match values provided in Table 5 of the Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life: zinc or Table 10.8 in the Scientific Criteria Document.

Enter DOC here:
 mg·L−1

Enter water hardness here:
mg·L−1

Calculated short-term benchmark:
μg·L−1

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) Equation

The long-term CWQG is for dissolved zinc and is calculated using the following equation: CWQG = exp(0.947[ln(hardness mg·L-1)] - 0.815[pH] + 0.398[ln(DOC mg·L-1)] + 4.625). 

The CWQG equation is valid between hardness 23.4 and 399 mg CaCO3·L−1, pH 6.5 and 8.13 and DOC 0.3 to 22.9 mg·L−1, which is the range of data used to derive the hardness, pH and DOC slopes. Extrapolations should not be made above the upper hardness limit of 399 mg CaCO3·L-1, above the upper DOC limit of 22.9 mg·L-1 or below the lower pH limit of 6.5. For hardness below 23.4 mg CaCO3·L-1, DOC below 0.3 mg·L-1 or pH above 8.13, where users want a more stringent WQG, they should extrapolate with caution and contact their local authority for advice. The long-term guideline is for dissolved concentrations of zinc. Where guideline users have only water sample concentrations of total zinc, they should first compare these samples to the dissolved guideline, and where there is an exceedance, re-sample for a dissolved concentration. Guidelines are expressed as two significant figures.

Please note that some values returned by the calculator may be rounded down and may not match the value provided in Table 7 of the Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life: zinc or Table 10.9 in the Scientific Criteria Document.

Enter DOC here:
 mg·L−1

Enter pH here:

Enter water hardness here:
mg·L−1

Calculated long-term quality guideline:
μg·L−1

Date 2018

Marine

Short Term Concentration (µg/L) Not assessed

Long Term Concentration (µg/L) Not assessed

Date 2018

Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agriculture

Irrigation

Concentration (µg/L) Equation

= 1000 µg/L when soil pH < 6.5
= 5000 µg/L when soil pH > 6.5
No fact sheet created. For more information on this guideline, please refer to Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CCREM 1987).

Date 1987

Livestock

Concentration (µg/L) 50 000

No fact sheet created. For more information on this guideline, please refer to Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CCREM 1987).

Date 1987

Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Freshwater

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG 123 000

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Zinc 5 32 36

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL 315 000

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Zinc 5 32 36

Date 1998

Marine

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG 124 000

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Zinc 4 27 65

Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL 271 000

Guideline % ≤ ISQG ISQG < % < PEL % ≥ PEL
Zinc 4 27 65

Date 1998

Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Agricultural 250

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate guidelines for human health and environmental health. Therefore, the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and supersedes the 1999 soil quality guideline and the 1991 interim remediation criteria for soil.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Residential/ parkland 250

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate guidelines for human health and environmental health. Therefore, the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and supersedes the 1999 soil quality guideline and the 1991 interim remediation criteria for soil.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Commercial 410

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate guidelines for human health and environmental health. Therefore, the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and supersedes the 1999 soil quality guideline and the 1991 interim remediation criteria for soil.

Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Industrial 410

Data are sufficient and adequate to calculate guidelines for human health and environmental health. Therefore, the soil quality guideline is the lower of the two and supersedes the 1999 soil quality guideline and the 1991 interim remediation criteria for soil.

Date 2018

Tissue Residue Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Widlife Consumer of Aquatic Biota

Concentration (µg/L) No data

Date No data

Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential No data

(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial No data

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential No data

(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial No data

Date No data

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