B.C. Reg. 375/96
O.C. 1480/96 and M271/2004
Deposited December 16, 1996
effective April 1, 1997

Environmental Management Act

Contaminated Sites Regulation

Note: Check the Cumulative Regulation Bulletin 2014
for any non-consolidated amendments to this regulation that may be in effect.

[includes amendments up to B.C. Reg. 4/2014, January 31, 2014]

Point in Time

Schedule 5

[am. B.C. Regs. 244/99, ss. 18 and 19; 17/2002, s. 29;

324/2004, s. 69; 239/2007, s. 6; 343/2008, s. 14; 6/2013, ss. 2 to 23; 4/2014.]

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Arsenic (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-38-2)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Intake of contaminated soil 100 100 100 300 300 3,4
Groundwater used for drinking water 15 15 15 15 15 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 50 50 50 100 100  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 25          
Major microbial functional impairment NS         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
Freshwater 20 20 20 20 20 5
Marine 25 25 25 25 25 5
Groundwater used for livestock watering 15         5
Groundwater used for irrigation 25 25 25     5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Standards have been derived based on results of clinical studies at sites. Standards represent the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the applicable soil ingestion clinical study factor, if one is available. For AL, PL, and RL, the soil ingestion clinical study factor is 80 µg/g. For CL, the soil ingestion clinical study factor is 240 µg/g. For IL, no soil ingestion clinical study factor is available. For IL, the toxicologically-based value without addition of a clinical study factor approximates the CL soil standard, therefore the IL standard was set equal to the CL standard.

4. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

5. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 14.9 μg/g.

6. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Barium (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-39-3)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 6 500 6 500 6 500 20 000 > 1 000mg/g 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 400 400 400 400 400 4, 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 400         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
Freshwater 3 500 3 500 3 500 3 500 3 500 4
Marine 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 4
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         7
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Assumes barium Kd = 100 L/kg.

5. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the reference provincial background soil concentration.

For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 412 μg/g.

6. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

7. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Benzene (Chemical Abstract Service # 71-43-2)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 1000 1000 1000 4000 6500 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 70 70 70 150 150  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
Freshwater 10 10 10 10 10  
   Marine 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5  
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         6
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     6

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Standard is equivalent to the reference analytical detection limit of 0.04 μg/g. The toxicologically-based value equals the reference analytical detection limit for the substance.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) (Chemical Abstract Service # 50-32-8)

COLUMN I COLUMN  II COLUMN  III COLUMN  IV COLUMN  V COLUMN  VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 5 5 5 15 50 3
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.1 1 1 10 10 5
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         6
Major microbial functional impairment NS         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by 

aquatic life
NS NS NS NS NS 4
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS NS NS     7
Groundwater used for irrigation NS         7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. NS — no standard. Model predicts that under the scenario used to derive matrix standards, Canadian Water Quality Guidelines will not be exceeded.

5. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

6. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

7. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Cadmium (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-43-9)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 3 or 35 3 or 35 3 or 35 100 3500 3,4,5
Groundwater used for drinking water            
pH < 6.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 6,7
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 3 3 3 3 3 6,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 15 15 15 15 15 6,7
pH 7.5 — < 8.0 200 200 200 200 200 6,7
pH ≥ 8.0 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 6,7
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 70 70 70 500 500  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 9          
Major microbial functional impairment NS         8
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
Freshwater            
pH < 7.0 2 2 2 2 2 6,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 6,7
pH 7.5 — < 8.0 25 25 25 25 25 6,7
pH ≥ 8.0 150 150 150 150 150 6,7
Marine            
pH < 7.0 2 2 2 2 2 6,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 6,7
pH 7.5 — < 8.0 35 35 35 35 35 6,7
pH ≥ 8.0 200 200 200 200 200 6,7
Groundwater used for livestock watering            
pH < 6.0 2.5         6,7
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 6         6,7
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 30         6,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 200         6,7
pH 7.5 — < 8.0 3 000         6,7
pH ≥ 8.0 20 000         6,7
Groundwater used for irrigation            
pH < 6.5 2 2 2     6,7
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 3 3 3     6,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 15 15 15     6,7
pH 7.5 — < 8.0 200 200 200     6,7
pH ≥ 8.0 1 000 1 000 1 000     6,7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. For AL, PL and RL, if the land is used to grow produce for human consumption, the standard is 3 μg/g, if not, the standard is 35 μg/g. For CL and IL, standards are applicable only to land that is not used to grow produce for human consumption.

4. Standards have been derived based on results of clinical studies at sites. For AL, PL and RL, the 3 μg/g standard represents the rounded remainder of the toxicologically-based value (35 μg/g) minus the soil ingestion clinical study factor (32 μg/g). For CL, the standard was set equal to the soil ingestion clinical study factor (100 μg/g). For IL, no soil ingestion clinical study factor is available, therefore the IL standard was set equal to the toxicologically-based value.

5. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

6. The pH is the pH of the soil at a site.

7. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 1.3 μg/g.

8. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Chloride Ion (Cl-) (Chemical Abstract Service # 7647-14-5)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g 3, 4
Groundwater used for drinking water 90 90 90 90 90 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 350 350 350 2 500 2 500  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         6
Major microbial functional impairment NS         7
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life 550 550 550 550 550 5,8
Groundwater used for livestock watering 200         5
Groundwater used for irrigation 35 35 35     5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Standard established based on toxic reference dose (tolerable daily intake) derived for NaCl. Toxicity attributed primarily to cation (Na+) not anion (Cl-).

5. Standard varies with Kd for chloride ion in the soil of a site. Standard is appropriate to a chloride:soil Kd range of 0 to 0.1 mL/g. Consult Director for further advice.

6. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

7. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

8. Standard to protect freshwater aquatic life.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Chromium (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-47-3)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 100 100 100 300 20 000 3,4
Groundwater used for drinking water 60 60 60 60 60 5,6
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 300 300 300 700 700 5
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 150

50
        4

7
Major microbial functional impairment 50         5,8
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
   Freshwater 60

65
60

65
60

65
60

65
60

65
4,6 

 6,7
   Marine 60

95
60

95
60

95
60

95
60

95
4,6 

 6,7
Groundwater used for livestock watering 60         9
Groundwater used for irrigation 60 60 60     9

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Standard is for chromium (+6).

5. Standard is for chromium (total).

6. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses and chromium species, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 58.9 μg/g.

7. Standard is for chromium (+3).

8. Standard is set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1999 — Nutrient and energy cycling check value.

9. Standard is applicable to both chromium (+3) and chromium (+6).

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Copper (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-50-8)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
3
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 15 000 15 000 15 000 50 000 200 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water            
pH < 5.0 250 250 250 250 250 4,5
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 400 400 400 400 400 4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000 4,5
pH ≥ 6.5 350 000 350 000 350 000 350 000 350 000 4,5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 150 150 150 250 250  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 150          
Major microbial functional impairment NS         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life           7
pH < 5.0 90 90 90 90 90 4,5
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 100 100 100 100 100 4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 200 200 200 200 200 4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 4,5
pH ≥ 6.5 30 000 30 000 30 000 30 000 30 000 4,5
Groundwater used for livestock watering            
pH < 5.0 100         4,5
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 150         4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 500         4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 5 000         4,5
pH ≥ 6.5 90 000         4,5
Groundwater used for irrigation            
pH < 5.0 100 100 100     4,5
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 150 150 150     4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 350 350 350     4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 3 500 3 500 3 500     4,5
pH ≥ 6.5 75 000 75 000 75 000     4,5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. The pH is the pH of the soil at a site.

5. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 74.0 μg/g.

6. Standard is applicable to livestock other than sheep. Consult director for further advice.

7. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) 2 (Chemical Abstract Service # 50-29-3)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
3
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 15 15 15 50 3 500 4
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 10 10 10 15 15  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         6
Major microbial functional impairment 550         7
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 5
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         5
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     5,8

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. Standards are for the sum of DDT and DDT metabolites.

3. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

4. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

5. NS — no standard. Substance is sufficiently hydrophobic to render it essentially insoluble and therefore immobile in aqueous media.

6. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

7. Standard is set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1999 - Nutrient and energy cycling check value.

8. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Ethylbenzene (Chemical Abstract Service # 100-41-4)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 3 500 3 500 3 500 10 000 700 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 7 7 7 7 7  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 1 1 1 20 20 4
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
   Freshwater 6 000 6 000 6 000 6 000 6 000 6
   Marine 7 000 7 000 7 000 7 000 7 000 6
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         7
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Insufficient acceptable data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 1999 provisional soil quality criteria.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. Standard would generate leachate concentrations at source in excess of solubility limit for substance. Substance would be present as NAPL in groundwater at soil concentrations greater than 1 000 μg/g.

7. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Ethylene Glycol (Chemical Abstract Service # 107-21-1)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 65 000 65 000 65 000 200 000 > 1 000 mg/g 3
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 5 500 5 500 5 500 20 000 20 000  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         4
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500  
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         4
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     4

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Lead (Chemical Abstract Service # 7439-92-1)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 400 400 400 700 4 000 3,4
Groundwater used for drinking water            
pH < 6.0 100 100 100 100 100 5,6
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 250 250 250 250 250 5,6
pH ≥ 6.5 4 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 5,6
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 1 000 1 000 1 000 2 000 2 000  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 350          
Major microbial functional impairment NS         7
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
pH < 5.5 150 150 150 150 150 5,6
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 250 250 250 250 250 5,6
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 2 000 2 000 2 000 2 000 2 000 5,6
pH ≥ 6.5 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 40 000 5,6
Groundwater used for livestock watering            
pH < 5.5 150         5,6
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 250         5,6
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 1 500         5,6
pH ≥ 6.5 30 000         5,6
Groundwater used for irrigation            
pH < 5.5 150 150 150     5,6
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 400 400 400     5,6
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 3 500 3 500 3 500     5,6
pH ≥ 6.5 100 000 100 000 100 000     5,6

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Standards have been derived based on results of clinical studies at sites. Standards represent the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the applicable soil ingestion clinical study factor, if one is available. For AL, PL and RL, the soil ingestion clinical study factor is 385 µg/g. For CL, the soil ingestion clinical study factor is 650 µg/g. For IL, no soil ingestion clinical study factor is available, therefore the IL standard was set equal to the toxicologically-based value.

5. The pH is the pH of the soil at a site.

6. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 108.6 μg/g.

7. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Mercury (Inorganic) (Chemical Abstract Service # 7439-97-6)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 15 15 15 40 2 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 100 100 100 150 150  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 0.6          
Major microbial functional impairment 20         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 4
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         4
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     4

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to a director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

5. Standard is set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1999 — Nutrient and energy cycling check value.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Pentachlorophenol (Chemical Abstract Service # 87-86-5)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 100 100 100 300 35 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water            
pH < 4.5 750 000 750 000 750 000 750 000 750 000 4
pH 4.5 — < 5.0 450 000 450 000 450 000 450 000 450 000 4
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 4 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 4
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 70 70 70 70 70 4
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 4
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 4
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 4
pH ≥ 7.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 20 20 20 50 50  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
pH <4.5 300 000 300 000 300 000 300 000 300 000  
pH 4.5 — <5.0 20 000 20 000 20 000 20 000 20 000 4,6
pH 5.0 — <5.5 150 150 150 150 150 4,6
pH 5.5 — <6.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 4,6
pH 6.0 — <6.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 4,6
pH 6.5 — <7.0 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 4,6
pH 7.0 — <7.5 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 4,6
pH 7.5 — <8.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 4,6
pH ≥ 8.0 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 4,6
Groundwater used for livestock watering            
pH < 4.5 750 000         4
pH 4.5 — < 5.0 450 000         4
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 4 000         4
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 70         4
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 6.5         4
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 2.0         4
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 1.5         4
pH ≥ 7.5 1.0         4
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. The pH is the pH of the soil at a site.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. Standard varies with temperature of surface water used by aquatic life; 20°C is assumed. Consult director for further advice.

7. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 2 (Chemical Abstract Service # 1336-36-3)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
3
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 5 5 5 15 50 4
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.5 5 5 50 50 6
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         7
Major microbial functional impairment NS         7
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 8
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         8
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     8

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) include Arochlor mixtures 1242, 1248, 1254 and 1260.

3. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

4. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

5. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

6. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

7. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

8. NS — no standard. No appropriate model to calculate environmental transport of complex mixtures exists.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans (PCDDs and PCDFs) (Chemical Abstract Service # 1746-01-6) 2  

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
3
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 0.00035 0.00035 0.00035 0.001 0.07 4
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.00001 0.001 0.001 0.0025 0.0025 6
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         7
Major microbial functional impairment NS         7
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 5
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         5
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) expressed in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) toxicity equivalents NATO International Toxicity Equivalency Factors (I-TEFs) for congeners and isomers of PCDDs and PCDFs are as follows:

Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans (PCDDs and PCDFs)

PCDD Congener I-TEF PCDF Congener I-TEF
2,3,7,8-T4CDD 1.0 2,3,7,8-T4CDF 0.1
1,2,3,7,8-P5CDD 0.5 2,3,4,7,8-P5CDF 0.5
1,2,3,4,7,8-H6CDD 0.1 1,2,3,7,8-P5CDF 0.05
1,2,3,7,8,9-H6CDD 0.1 1,2,3,4,7,8-H6CDF 0.1
1,2,3,6,7,8-H6CDD 0.1 1,2,3,7,8,9-H6CDF 0.1
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDD 0.01 1,2,3,6,7,8-H6CDF 0.1
O8CDD 0.001 2,3,4,6,7,8-H6CDF 0.1
    1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDF 0.01
    1,2,3,4,7,8,9-H7CDF 0.01
    O8CDF 0.001

Notes

3. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

4. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

5. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

6. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so AL, PL, and RL standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

7. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Sodium Ion (Na+) (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-23-5)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g > 1 000 mg/g 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 200 200 200 1 000 1 000  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         4
Major microbial functional impairment NS         4
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 5
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         5
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

5. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) (Chemical Abstract Service # 127-18-4)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 1 000 1 000 1 000 3 500 70 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water NS NS NS NS NS 4
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.1 5 5 50 50 5
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         6
Major microbial functional impairment NS         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life 5 5 5 5 5  
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         4
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     4

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

5. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

6. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Toluene (Chemical Abstract Service # 108-88-3)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 40 000 40 000 40 000 100 000 550 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 1.5 1.5 1.5 25 25 4
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
   Freshwater 40 40 40 40 40 6
   Marine 350 350 350 350 350 6
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         7
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     7

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 1999 provisional soil quality criteria.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. Standard comes into effect January 1, 2002. Until that date, applicable standard is 300 μg/g.

7. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Trichloroethylene (TCE) (Chemical Abstract Service # 79-01-6)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 200 200 200 600 10 000 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.1 5 5 50 50 4
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65  
Groundwater used for livestock watering 0.15          
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     6

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Xylene (Chemical Abstract Service # 1330-20-7)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 65 000 65 000 65 000 200 000 > 1 000 mg/g 3
Groundwater used for drinking water 20 20 20 20 20  
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 0.1 5 5 50 50 4
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder NS         5
Major microbial functional impairment NS         5
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life NS NS NS NS NS 6
Groundwater used for livestock watering NS         6
Groundwater used for irrigation NS NS NS     6

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. Insufficient acceptable environmental data exists, so standards are set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment interim soil quality criteria.

5. NS — no standard. Insufficient acceptable scientific data exists, so no standard is calculated.

6. NS — no standard. No appropriate standard, guideline or criterion exists to use to develop a soil quality standard.

Matrix Numerical Soil Standards 1  

Zinc (Chemical Abstract Service # 7440-66-6)

COLUMN I COLUMN II COLUMN III COLUMN IV COLUMN V COLUMN VI Note
Site-specific Factor SOIL STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FACTOR  
Agricultural

(AL)
Urban Park

(PL)
Residential

(RL)
Commercial

(CL)
Industrial

(IL)
2
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION            
Intake of contaminated soil 10 000 10 000 10 000 30 000 > 1 000 mg/g 3
Groundwater used for drinking water            
pH < 5.0 150 150 150 150 150 4,5
pH 5.0 — < 5.5 200 200 200 200 200 4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 300 300 300 300 300 4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 4,5
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 7 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 4,5
pH ≥ 7.0 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000 15 000 4,5
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION            
Toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants 450 450 450 600 600  
Livestock ingesting soil and fodder 200          
Major microbial functional impairment 320         6
Groundwater flow to surface water used by aquatic life            
Freshwater            
pH < 6.0 150 150 150 150 150 4,5,7
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 300 300 300 300 300 4,5,7
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 1 500 4,5,7
pH ≥ 7.0 3 000 3 000 3 000 3 000 3 000 4,5,7
Marine            
pH < 6.5 150 150 150 150 150 4,5,7
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 300 300 300 300 300 4,5,7
pH 7.0 — < 7.5 2 000 2 000 2 000 2 000 2 000 4,5,7
pH ≥ 7.5 35 000 35 000 35 000 35 000 35 000 4,5,7
Groundwater used for livestock watering            
pH < 5.5 150         4,5
pH 5.5 — < 6.0 200         4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 500         4,5
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 3 000         4,5
pH ≥ 7.0 7 000         4,5
Groundwater used for irrigation            
pH < 6.0 150 150 150     4,5
pH 6.0 — < 6.5 500 500 500     4,5
pH 6.5 — < 7.0 3 000 3 000 3 000     4,5
pH ≥ 7.0 15 000 15 000 15 000     4,5

Notes

1. All values in μg/g unless otherwise stated. Substances must be analyzed using methods specified in a director's protocol or alternate methods acceptable to the director.

2. The site-specific factors of human intake of contaminated soil and toxicity to soil invertebrates and plants specified in this matrix apply at all sites.

3. Intake pathway of exposure modeled is inadvertent ingestion of soil.

4. The pH is the pH of the soil at a site.

5. Standard has been adjusted based on a reference provincial background soil concentration. Standard represents the rounded sum of the toxicologically-based value plus the reference provincial background soil concentration. For all land uses, the reference provincial background soil concentration is 138.1 μg/g.

6. Standard is set equal to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1999 - Nutrient and energy cycling check value.

7. Standard varies with receiving water hardness (H). H = 100 — < 200 mg/L as CaCO3 is assumed. Consult director for further advice.

Contents  |  Parts 1 to 18  |  Schedule 1  |  Schedule 1.1  |  Schedule 2  |  Schedule 3  |  Schedule 4  |  Schedule 5  |  Schedule 6  |  Schedule 7  |  Schedule 8  |  Schedule 9  |  Schedule 10  |  Schedule 11