Technical Report
A Summary and Evaluation of Aquatic Environmental Data in Relation to Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Munitions-Unique Compounds. Part 4: RDX and HMX
Sullivan, J; Putnam, H; Keirn, M; Pruitt, B; Nichols, J
Water and Air Research Inc Gainesville FL
ADA087683, DAMD17-77-C-7027, CPIAC-1981-0032
The effects of RDX and HMX on the aquatic environment were reviewed and water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms are recommended. Chemical properties, analytical methods, manufacturing wastewater characteristics, and environmental fate of RDX and HMX are reviewed and discussed. The data base for RDX consists of acute tests with four species of freshwater algae, acute and chronic tests with four and two species of freshwater invertebrates respectively, and acute and chronic tests with four and two species of freshwater fish respectively. The data base for HMX is more limited consisting of acute tests on four species of freshwater algae, acute tests on four species of freshwater invertebrates, and acute tests on four species of freshwater fish. Effects were observed only at nominal concentrations exceeding the solubility of HMX. Three procedures were utilized to determine the recommended water quality criteria for RDX and HMX; (1) a proposed procedure by EPA, (2) acute toxicity values multiplied by a general application factor, and (3) acute toxicity values multiplied by an experimentally derived application factor. For RDX, a 24-hour average concentration of 0.30 mg/1 should adequately protect aquatic life. Insufficient data exist to establish a criteria for HMX.
waste water, aquatic organisms, data bases, toxic hazards, fresh water, water treatment, munitions industry, industrial plants, environmental protection, water quality, invertebrates, rdx, concentration(chemistry), fishes, algae, hmx, wu067, pe62720a, a
