NR 105.09(1)(1)
The human cancer criterion (HCC) is the maximum concentration of a substance or mixture of substances established to protect humans from an unreasonable incremental risk of cancer resulting from contact with or ingestion of surface waters of the state and from ingestion of aquatic organisms taken from surface waters of the state. Human cancer criteria are derived for those toxic substances which are carcinogens as defined in s.
NR 105.03 (13).
NR 105.09(2)
(2) For any single carcinogen or any mixture of carcinogens the incremental cancer risk from exposure to surface waters and aquatic organisms taken from surface waters may not exceed one in 100,000. The combined cancer risk of individual carcinogens in a mixture is assumed to be additive unless an alternate model is supported by credible scientific evidence.
NR 105.09(3)
(3) Human cancer criteria are listed in Table 9. Criteria for the same substance may be different depending on the surface water classification, due to the lipid value of representative fish, a component of the BAF, and whether or not the water may be a source of drinking water. Further application of these criteria to protect drinking water and downstream uses in the Great Lakes system shall be according to s.
NR 106.06 (1). -
See PDF for table 
NR 105.09(4)
(4) To derive human cancer criteria for substances not included in Table 9 the following methods shall be used:
NR 105.09(4)(a)
(a) The human cancer criterion shall be calculated as follows:
NR 105.09(4)(b)
(b) For surface waters classified as public water supplies, if the human cancer criterion for a toxic substance as calculated in par.
(a) exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for that substance as specified in ch.
NR 809 or
the July 8, 1987 Federal Register (52 FR 25690), the MCL shall be used as the human cancer criterion.
NR 105.09(5)
(5) The risk associated dose (RAD) referenced in sub.
(4) represents the maximum amount of a substance which if ingested daily for a lifetime of 70 years has an incremental cancer risk equal to one case of human cancer in a population of 100,000. Methods for deriving the risk associated dose are specified in pars.
(a) to
(d).
NR 105.09(5)(a)
(a) The department shall review available references for acceptable human and animal studies from which the risk associated dose can be derived. The department shall use sound scientific judgment when determining the acceptability of a study and may use the U.S. environmental protection agency's “Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment" (FR 51 33992, September 24, 1986) as guidance for judging acceptability. Suitable references for review include, but are not limited to, those presented in s.
NR 105.04 (5).
NR 105.09(5)(b)
(b) If an acceptable human epidemiologic study is available, contains usable exposure data, and indicates a carcinogenic effect, the risk associated dose shall be set equal to the lifetime average exposure which would produce an incremental cancer risk of one in 100,000 based on the exposure information from the study and assuming the excess cancer risk is proportional to the lifetime average exposure. If more than one human epidemiologic study is judged to be acceptable, the most protective risk associated dose derived from the studies is generally used to calculate the human cancer criterion. If the risk associated dose values differ significantly, the department may consult with experts outside of the department for guidance in the selection of the more appropriate value.
NR 105.09(5)(c)
(c) In the absence of an acceptable human epidemiologic study, the risk associated dose shall be derived from available studies which use mammalian test species and which are judged acceptable. Methods for deriving the risk associated dose are specified in subds.
1. to
4. NR 105.09(5)(c)1.
1. A linear, non-threshold dose-response relationship as applied by the U.S. environmental protection agency in “Water Quality Criteria Documents; Availability" (45 FR 79318, November 28, 1980) shall be assumed unless a more appropriate dose-response relationship or extrapolation model is supported by credible scientific evidence.
NR 105.09 Note
Note: The linear non-threshold dose-response model used by the U.S. environmental protection agency provides an upper-bound estimate (i.e., the one-sided 95% upper confidence limit) of incremental cancer risk. The true cancer risk is unknown. While the true cancer risk is not likely to be greater than the upper bound estimate, it may be lower.
NR 105.09(5)(c)2.
2. When a linear, non-threshold dose-response relationship is assumed, the risk associated dose shall be calculated using the following equation:
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.
3. The department shall adhere to the following guidance for deriving carcinogenic potency factors, or corresponding values if an alternate dose-response relationship or extrapolation model is used, unless more appropriate procedures are supported by credible scientific evidence:
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.a.
a. If 2 or more mammalian studies are judged acceptable, but vary in either species, strain or sex of the test animals, or in tumor type or site, the study giving the greatest carcinogenic potency factor shall be used. Studies which produce a spuriously high carcinogenic potency factor due to the use of a small number of test animals may be excluded.
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.b.
b. If 2 or more mammalian studies are judged acceptable, are comparable in size and are identical in regard to species, strain and sex of the test animals and to tumor sites, the geometric mean of the carcinogenic potency factors derived from each study shall be used.
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.c.
c. If in an acceptable study, tumors were induced at more than one site, the number of animals with tumors at one or more of the sites shall be used as incidence data when deriving the cancer potency factor.
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.d.
d. The combination of benign and malignant tumors shall be used as incidence data when deriving the cancer potency factor.
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.e.
e. Calculation of an equivalent dose between animal species and humans using a surface area conversion, and conversion of units of exposure to milligrams of toxicant per day (mg/d) shall be performed as specified by the U.S. environmental protection agency in “Water Quality Criteria Documents; Availability" (45 FR 79318, November 28, 1980).
NR 105.09(5)(c)3.f.
f. If the duration of the mammalian study (D) is less than the natural life span of the test animal (LS), the carcinogenicity potency factor is multiplied by the factor (D/LS)3.
NR 105.09(5)(c)4.
4. When available mammalian studies contain conflicting information, the department shall consult with the department of health services and may consult with experts outside of the department for guidance in the selection of the appropriate study.
NR 105.09(5)(d)
(d) If both a human epidemiologic study and a study of mammalian test species are judged reliable but only the animal study indicates a carcinogenic effect, it is assumed that a risk of cancer to humans exists but that it is less than could have been detected in the epidemiologic study. An upper limit of cancer incidence may be calculated assuming that the true incidence is just below the level of detection in the cohort of the epidemiologic study. The department may consult with experts outside of the department for guidance in the selection of the appropriate study.
NR 105.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; am. table 9 and (6),
Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91; correction in (4) (b) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 1995, No. 477; am. (1), (3), r. and recr. Table 9, am. (4) (a), (b), (5) (intro.), (a) (b), (c) (intro.) and 2., r. (6),
Register, August, 1997, No. 500, eff. 9-1-97;
CR 03-050: am. Table 9
Register February 2004 No. 578, eff. 3-1-04;
CR 07-110: am. Table 9
Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08;
CR 09-123: am. Table 9
Register July 2010 No. 655, eff. 8-1-10;
correction in (5) (c) 4. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register April 2023 No. 808.
NR 105.10(1)(1)
The bioaccumulation factor used to derive wildlife, human threshold, human cancer and taste and odor criteria or secondary values is determined from a baseline BAF using the methodology provided in Appendix B to
40 CFR part 132. 40 CFR part
132, Appendix B as stated on September 1, 1997, is incorporated by reference. BAFs shall be used to calculate criteria and secondary values for human health and wildlife. Use of a BAF greater than 1000, as determined from either of the methods referred to in sub.
(2) (c) or
(d) for organic substances, will result in the calculation of a secondary value. The baseline BAF is based on the concentration of freely dissolved substances in the ambient water to facilitate extrapolation from one water to another.
NR 105.10(2)
(2) Baseline BAFs shall be derived using one of the following 4 methods, which are listed from most preferred to least preferred.
NR 105.10(2)(a)
(a) A measured baseline BAF for an organic or inorganic substance derived from a field study of acceptable quality;
NR 105.10(2)(b)
(b) A predicted baseline BAF for an organic substance derived using field-measured BSAFs of acceptable quality;
NR 105.10(2)(c)
(c) A predicted baseline BAF for an organic or inorganic substance derived from a BCF measured in a laboratory study of acceptable quality and a food-chain multiplier. Food-chain multipliers are provided in
40 CFR part 132, Appendix B; or
NR 105.10(2)(d)
(d) A predicted baseline BAF for an organic substance derived from a K
OW of acceptable quality and a food-chain multiplier.
NR 105.10(3)
(3)
Review and selection of data. Measured BAFs, BSAFs and BCFs shall meet the quality assurance requirements provided in
40 CFR part 132, Appendix B and shall be obtained from available sources including the following:
NR 105.10(3)(a)
(a) EPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria documents issued after January 1, 1980.
NR 105.10(4)
(4)
Human health and wildlife BAFs for organic substances. NR 105.10(4)(a)(a) To calculate human health and wildlife BAFs for organic substances, the K
OW of the substance shall be used with a POC concentration of 0.00000004 kg/L and a DOC concentration of 0.000002 kg/L to yield the fraction freely dissolved:
ffd = 1 .
1 + (DOC)(Kow) + (POC)(Kow)
10
= 1 ..
1 + (0.000002 kg/L)(Kow
) + (0.00000004 kg/L)(Kow)
10
= 1 .
1 + (0.00000024 kg/L)(Kow)
Where:
DOC = concentration of dissolved organic carbon, kg of dissolved organic carbon/L of water.
POC = concentration of particulate organic carbon, kg of particulate organic carbon/L of water.
NR 105.10(4)(b)
(b) The human health BAFs for an organic substance shall be calculated using the following equations:
For warm water communities:
Human Health BAF = [(baseline BAF)(0.013)+ 1](ffd)
For cold water communities:
Human Health BAF = [(baseline BAF)(0.044)+ 1](ffd)
Where: 0.013 and 0.044 are the fraction lipid values for warm and cold water fish and aquatic life communities, respectively, that are required to derive human health criteria and secondary values.
baseline BAF = the baseline BAF calculated according
to
40 CFR part 132, Appendix B.
NR 105.10(4)(c)
(c) The wildlife BAFs for an organic substance shall be calculated using the following equations:
Wildlife BAF = [(baseline BAF)(0.0646)+ 1](ffd)
Wildlife BAF = [(baseline BAF)(0.1031)+ 1](ffd)
Where: 0.0646 and 0.1031 are the standardized fraction lipid values for dietary consumption from trophic level 3 and 4 fish taxa, respectively, that are required to derive wildlife criteria and secondary values.
baseline BAF = the baseline BAF calculated according
to
40 CFR part 132, Appendix B.
NR 105.10(5)
(5)
Human health and wildlife BAFs for inorganic substances. NR 105.10(5)(a)1.1. Measured BAFs and BCFs used to determine human health BAFs for inorganic substances shall be based on edible tissue (e.g., muscle) of freshwater fish. If it is demonstrated that whole-body BAFs or BCFs are similar to edible-tissue BAFs or BCFs, then these data are acceptable. BCFs and BAFs based on measurements of aquatic plants and invertebrates may not be used in the derivation of human health criteria and values.
NR 105.10(5)(a)2.
2. If one or more field-measured baseline BAFs for an inorganic substance are available from studies conducted in the Great Lakes system with the muscle of fish, the geometric mean of the species mean baseline BAFs shall be used as the human health BAF for that substance.
NR 105.10(5)(a)3.
3. If an acceptable measured baseline BAF is not available for an inorganic substance and one or more acceptable edible-portion BCFs are available for the substance, a predicted baseline BAF shall be calculated by multiplying the geometric mean of the BCFs times a FCM. The FCM will be 1.0 unless chemical-specific biomagnification data support using a multiplier other than 1.0. The predicted baseline BAF shall be used as the human health BAF for that substance.
NR 105.10(5)(b)1.1. Measured BAFs and BCFs used to determine wildlife BAFs for inorganic substances shall be based on whole-body freshwater fish and invertebrate data. If it is demonstrated that edible-tissue BAFs or BCFs are similar to whole-body BAFs or BCFs, then these data are acceptable.
NR 105.10(5)(b)2.
2. If one or more field-measured baseline BAFs for an inorganic substance is available from studies conducted in the Great Lakes system with whole body of fish or invertebrates, then the following apply:
NR 105.10(5)(b)2.a.
a. For each trophic level, a species mean measured baseline BAF shall be calculated as the geometric mean if more than one measured BAF is available for a given species.
NR 105.10(5)(b)2.b.
b. For each trophic level, the geometric mean of the species mean measured baseline BAFs shall be used as the wildlife BAF for that substance.
NR 105.10(5)(b)3.
3. If an acceptable measured baseline BAF is not available for an inorganic substance and one or more acceptable whole-body BCFs are available for the substance, a predicted baseline BAF shall be calculated by multiplying the geometric mean of the BCFs times a FCM. The FCM shall be 1.0 unless chemical-specific biomagnification data support using a multiplier other than 1.0. The predicted baseline BAF shall be used as the wildlife BAF for that substance.
NR 105.10 Note
Note: Copies of
40 CFR Part 132, Appendix B are available for inspection in the offices of the department of natural resources, secretary of state and the legislative reference bureau, Madison, WI or may be purchased from the superintendent of documents, US government printing office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
NR 105.10 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1989, No. 398, eff. 3-1-89; r. and recr.,
Register, August, 1997, No. 500, eff. 9-1-97.
NR 105.11(1)(1)
A Final Plant Value (FPV) is the lowest plant value that was obtained with an important aquatic plant species in an acceptable toxicity test for which the concentrations of the test substance were measured and the adverse effect was biologically important. Appropriate measures of the toxicity of the substance to aquatic plants are used to compare the relative sensitivities of aquatic plants and animals.
NR 105.11(2)
(2) A plant value is the result of a 96-hour test conducted with an algae or a chronic test conducted with an aquatic vascular plant. A test of the toxicity of a metal to a plant may not be used if the medium contained an excessive amount of a complexing agent, such as EDTA, that might affect the toxicity of the metal. Concentrations of EDTA above 200
mg/L should be considered excessive.
NR 105.11(3)
(3) The FPV shall be established by selecting the lowest result from a test with an important aquatic plant species in which the concentrations of test material are measured and the endpoint is biologically important.
NR 105.11 Note
Note: Although procedures for conducting and interpreting the results of toxicity tests with plants are not well advanced, results of tests with plants usually indicate that criteria which adequately protect aquatic animals and their uses will, in most cases, also protect aquatic plants and their uses.
NR 105.11 History
History: Cr.
Register, August, 1997, No. 500, eff. 9-1-97.
