Withdrawal of select guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality

Table of contents

• Executive summary
• Part A. Withdrawal of select guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality
  • A.1 Guideline development and review process
  • A.2 Withdrawal of select guidelines
• Part B. Key information supporting withdrawn guidelines
• Part C. References and abbreviations
  • C.1 References
  • C.2 List of abbreviations

Executive summary

Health Canada, in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, is withdrawing the existing Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) for 17 chemical substances, including 13 pesticides. It was determined that GCDWQ are no longer required since these contaminants are unlikely to be found in Canadian drinking water at levels that may pose a risk to human health.

The guidelines for the following pesticides are withdrawn: azinphos-methyl, carbaryl, carbofuran, diazinon, diclofop-methyl, diuron, metolachlor, paraquat, phorate, picloram, simazine, terbufos, and trifluralin. The other chemical substances withdrawn are 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and monochlorobenzene.

This document summarizes the current available information supporting the withdrawal of 17 GCDWQ, taking into account any key updates in the current scientific information for these parameters, changes in registration status (for pesticides) and Canadian exposures from drinking water monitoring data provided by the provinces and territories.

Part A. Withdrawal of select guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality

A.1 Guideline development and review process

The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) are developed by Health Canada in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee (CDW) to protect the health of all Canadians by establishing maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs) for contaminants in drinking water. Each guideline is developed based on current, published scientific studies related to health effects and operational considerations and, in some cases, aesthetic effects. Health-based guidelines are established based on comprehensive reviews of the known health effects associated with each contaminant, exposure levels and the availability of appropriate treatment and analytical technologies.

Health Canada, in collaboration with the CDW, generally establishes GCDWQ for chemical contaminants that meet the following criteria:

1. Exposure to the contaminant could lead to adverse health effects;
2. The contaminant is frequently detected, or could be expected to be found, in a large number of drinking water supplies throughout Canada; and
3. The contaminant is detected, or could be expected to be detected, at a level that could potentially pose a risk to human health.

As part of the prioritization process for guideline development, Health Canada periodically assesses the available information on existing chemical drinking water guidelines to determine whether they are relevant in the current Canadian context and whether they should be updated or withdrawn. This review incorporates information from the current scientific literature as well as Canadian drinking water monitoring data. In the case of pesticides, additional information such as Canadian sales data, registration status and current or updated acceptable daily intake (ADI) values, as established by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), are also considered.

The GCDWQ are developed on an assessment of the hazard (the inherent toxicity of a chemical) and the risk of adverse health effects associated with exposure to chemical contaminants in drinking water. This is done to determine an acceptable level to which the general population, or susceptible subpopulations, can be exposed over a lifetime (considered 70 years) with no adverse health impacts expected. This acceptable level is known as the MAC.

A.2 Withdrawal of select guidelines

As provinces and territories are generally responsible for drinking water quality in their jurisdiction, they each determine how they use the GCDWQ to address their specific needs. Some provinces and territories automatically adopt health-based GCDWQ by reference, thereby creating an obligation to monitor for these drinking water contaminants. Drinking water monitoring data from the provinces and territories are used as an indicator of the actual exposure of Canadians to chemical contaminants in drinking water. Over time, a guideline may no longer be needed, as science demonstrates that adverse health effects occur at levels much higher than were previously assessed, or routine monitoring data indicates that specific chemical contaminants are not generally found in drinking water systems. In the case of pesticides, a change in registration status may mean that the product is no longer in use in Canada, thus removing the potential for that pesticide to enter drinking water sources. The withdrawal of a GCDWQ would remove the need or obligation of provinces and territories to routinely monitor for the given contaminant, thus allowing Canadian jurisdictions to focus their efforts on contaminants that continue to be a concern for human health.

Based on current information, Health Canada is withdrawing the GCDWQ for the following:

• 1,2-dichlorobenzene
• 2,4-dichlorophenol
• 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol
• azinphos-methyl
• carbaryl
• carbofuran
• diazinon
• diclofop-methyl
• diuron
• metolachlor
• monochlorobenzene
• paraquat
• phorate
• picloram
• simazine
• terbufos
• trifluralin

The withdrawal of the above guidelines means that published health guidance, in the form of drinking water technical documents, will no longer be available on Health Canada's website. However, in the event that any of these chemical contaminants are detected in a drinking water supply, federal, provincial or territorial jurisdictions can request that Health Canada provide up-to-date health guidance to help address specific needs, such as addressing a contamination event or interpreting source water monitoring data. In the case of pesticides, such health guidance will be developed based on the most up-to-date scientific assessments by Health Canada's PMRA. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, PMRA conducts stringent, science-based evaluations to ensure that pesticides registered for use in Canada pose acceptable risks to human health and the environment. It also re-evaluates registered pesticides to ensure the products meet current scientific standards. For pesticides where drinking water quality guidelines no longer exist, up-to-date ADIs are available from PMRA for determining appropriate health guidance. For those chemicals that are not pesticides, health guidance can be provided to federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis through evaluation of current scientific information and risk assessments by other international organizations.

As part of its drinking water guideline review process, Health Canada monitors new research and scientific information to ensure existing guidelines are updated to reflect advances in the scientific literature and risk assessment methods, as well as assessments by international organizations. To this end, Health Canada has a cyclical process for prioritizing the revision of existing guidelines, for the development of new guidelines, or the withdrawal of guidelines that are no longer needed. This prioritization process is conducted in collaboration with the provinces, territories, and other federal departments. For more information on the prioritization process, please consult Health Canada's drinking water quality website.

Part B. Key information supporting withdrawn guidelines

Table 1 provides a list of the pesticides that have been phased out and are no longer expected to be found in water. For the chemical contaminants identified in Table 2 and Table 3, monitoring data provided by the provinces and territories indicate that they are rarely found in drinking water, and only at levels well below their respective MACs. Based on this information, select GCDWQ are no longer required because these contaminants are unlikely to be found in Canadian drinking water at levels that may pose a risk to human health.

Table 1. Phased-out pesticides

Parameter	MAC (mg/L)(date established)	Key health endpoint	Year phased out
Azinphos-methyl	0.02 (Health Canada, 1989b)	Decreased plasma cholinesterase in rats	Decision in 2006 (Health Canada, 2006a); final use in 2012 (Health Canada, 2007)
Carbofuran	0.09 (Health Canada, 1991a)	Cholinesterase inhibition and growth suppression in rats	2010 (Health Canada, 2010)
Diclofop-methyl	0.009 (Health Canada, 1987a)	Liver effects in rats and mice	2011Footnote 2 (Health Canada, 2011)
MetolachlorFootnote 1	0.05 (Health Canada, 1986a)	Male rat reproductive effects	2006Footnote 22
Terbufos	0.001 (Health Canada, 1987b)	Cholinesterase inhibition in dogs	2012 (Health Canada, 2004a; 2008a)

Table 2. Registered pesticides unlikely to be found in drinking water at levels that could lead to adverse health effects. Canadian monitoring data indicate that exposure from drinking water is rare, and when detected, levels are well below the MAC.

Parameter	MAC (mg/L)(reference)	Key health endpoint; Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI) / Negligible Daily Intake (NDI) used to derive MAC; New ADI (mg/kg bw per day)	Sales of Active Ingredient (AI) in CanadaFootnote 1 (kg)(Health Canada, 2018)	Summary Sample DataFootnote 2 (total detects / total samples; %)	Maximum Level DetectedFootnote 2 (mg/L)
Carbaryl	0.09 (Health Canada, 1991b)	Effects on the kidney in humans; ADI = 0.01; New ADI = 0.011 (Health Canada, 2009a)	> 25,000, < 100,000	14/5006 0.3%	0.00018
DiazinonFootnote 3	0.02 (Health Canada, 1986c)	Cholinesterase inhibition in dogs and humans; ADI = 0.002; New ADI = 0.0002 (Health Canada, 2005)	> 1000, < 5000	14/5518 0.3%	0.00043
Diuron	0.15 (Health Canada, 1987c)	Body weight loss, increased liver weight, erythroid hyperplasia and decreased haematological values in dogs; ADI = 0.0156; New ADI = 0.003 (Health Canada, 2006b)	> 5000, < 10,000	8/5691 0.1%	0.001
Paraquat	0.01 (Health Canada, 1986d)	Decreased body weight and internal organ weights; effects on the lungs and kidneys in rats and dogs; ADI = 0.001; New ADI = 0.0045 (Health Canada, 2004b)	< 500	86/4228 2%	0.0065
Phorate	0.002 (Health Canada, 1986e)	Cholinesterase inhibition in dogs and rats; ADI = 0.0002; New ADI = 0.00025 (Health Canada, 2003)	> 10,000, < 25,000	2/5621 0.04%	0.0013
Picloram	0.19 (Health Canada, 1988)	Changes in liver and body weight and clinical parameters in rats; NDI = 0.02; New ADI = 0.2 (Health Canada, 2007)	> 10,000, < 25,000	4/6618 0.06%	0.00006
Simazine	0.01 (Health Canada, 1986f)	Reduced body weight, increased serum alkaline phosphatase glutamic-oxaloacetic and slight hyperplasia of the thyroid gland in dogs; NDI = 0.0013; New ADI = 0.0018 (Health Canada, 2009b)	> 10,000, < 25,000	6/7485 0.08%	0.00005
Trifluralin	0.045 (Health Canada, 1989c)	Changes in liver and spleen weights and serum chemistry in dogs; NDI = 0.0048; New ADI = 0.024 (Health Canada, 2008b)	> 100,000, < 500,000	8/7661 0.1%	0.00019

Table 3. Other chemicals unlikely to be found in drinking water at levels that could lead to adverse health effects. Canadian monitoring data indicate that exposure from drinking water is rare, and when detected, levels are well below the MAC.

Parameter	MAC (mg/L) (date established)	Key health endpoint; ADI used to derive MAC (mg/kg bw per day)	Common releases to water	Summary Sample Data1 (total detects / total samples)	Maximum level detected Footnote 1 (mg/L)
1,2-dichlorobenzene	0.2 (Health Canada, 1987d)	Changes in serum cholesterol, protein and glucose in rats; ADI = 0.021	Releases or spills from industrial effluents	4/31307 0.01%	0.0002
2,4-dichlorophenol	0.9 (Health Canada, 1987e)	Slight changes in liver histopath-ology in male mice; ADI = 0.1	By-product of drinking water disinfection with chlorine; releases from industrial effluents	11/13305 0.08%	0.0007
2,3,4,6-tetrachloro-phenol	0.1 (Health Canada, 1987f)	Embryotoxicity in rats; ADI = 0.01	By-product of drinking water disinfection with chlorine; industrial effluents and use of pesticides	2/13050 0.02%	0.0004
Mono-chlorobenzene	0.08 (Health Canada, 1987g)	Reduced survival and body weight gain; liver and kidney effects in mice and rats; ADI = 0.0089	Releases or spills from industrial effluents	2/26710 0.007%	0.00025

Part C. References and abbreviations

C.1 References

Alberta Environment and Parks. (2015). Personal communication with D. Reid, Drinking-water and Wastewater Section, Provincial Programs Branch, Operations Division, Environment and Parks. Monitoring period: 2010-2015.

Health Canada. (1986a). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Metolachlor. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-metolachlor.html

Health Canada. (1986c). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Diazinon. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-diazinon.html

Health Canada. (1986d). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Paraquot. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-paraquat.html

Health Canada. (1986e). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Phorate. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-phorate.html

Health Canada. (1986f). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Simazine. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-simazine.html

Health Canada. (1987a). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Diclofop-methyl. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-diclofop-methyl.html

Health Canada. (1987b). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Terbufos. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-terbufos.html

Health Canada. (1987c). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Diuron. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-diuron.html

Health Canada. (1987d). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-dichlorobenzenes.html

Health Canada. (1987e). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - 2,4-dichlorophenol. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/chlorophenols.html

Health Canada. (1987f). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/chlorophenols.html

Health Canada. (1987g). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Monochlorobenzene. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-monochlorobenzene.html

Health Canada. (1988). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Picloram. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-picloram.html

Health Canada. (1989a). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Bromoxynil. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-bromoxynil.html

Health Canada. (1989b). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Azinphos-methyl. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-azinphos-methyl.html

Health Canada. (1989c). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Trifluralin. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-trifluralin.html

Health Canada. (1991a). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Carbofuran. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-carbofuran.html

Health Canada. (1991b). Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: Guideline technical document - Carbaryl. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-carbaryl.html

Health Canada. (1993). 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. PSL1. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/canadian-environmental-protection-act-priority-substances-list-report-1-2-dichlorobenzene.html

Health Canada. (2004a). Re-evaluation Decision Document. Re-evaluation of Terbufos. RRD2004-04. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H113-12-2004-4E.pdf

Health Canada. (2004b). Proposed Acceptability for Continuing Registration Re-evaluation of Paraquat Dichloride. PACR2004-41. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H113-18-2004-41E.pdf

Health Canada. (2005). Re-evaluation Note Diazinon. REV2005-06. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H113-5-2005-6E.pdf

Health Canada. (2006a). Update on Re-evaluation of Azinphos-methyl. REV2006-04. Pesticides and pest management reports and publications. Decisions and updates. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available upon request at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/decisions-updates.html#revnote

Health Canada. (2006b). Proposed Acceptability for Continuing Registration PACR2006-07 diuron. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H113-18-2006-7E.pdf

Health Canada. (2007). Update on Re-evaluation of Azinphos-methyl. REV2007-08. Pesticides and pest management reports and publications. Decisions and updates. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available upon request at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/decisions-updates.html#revnote

Health Canada. (2008a). Re-evaluation Note. Update on the Use of Terbufos on Sugar Beets. REV2008-06. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/pmra-arla/H113-5-2008-6E.pdf

Health Canada. (2008b). Proposed Re-evaluation Decision Trifluralin. PRVD2008-22. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/pmra-arla/H113-27-2008-22E.pdf

Health Canada. (2009a). Proposed Re-evaluation Decision Carbaryl. PRVD2009-14. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2010/arla-pmra/H113-27-2009-14-eng.pdf

Health Canada. (2009b). Proposed Re-evaluation Decision Simazine. PRVD2009-12. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/arla-pmra/H113-27-2009-12E.pdf

Health Canada. (2010). Re-evaluation Decision Carbofuran. RVD 2010-16. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/sc-hc/H113-28-2010-16-eng.pdf

Health Canada. (2011). Re-evaluation Decision Diclofop-methyl. RVD2011-12. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/sc-hc/H113-28-2011-12-eng.pdf

Health Canada. (2017). Re-evaluation Note Diazinon REV2017-13. Special Review Decision: Diazinon -Subsection 17(2) of Pest Control Products Act. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Available at www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/decisions-updates/reevaluation-note/2017/diazinon-rev-2017-13.html

Health Canada. (2018). Pest Control Products Sales Report for 2018. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/reports-publications/pesticides-pest-management/corporate-plans-reports/pest-control-products-sales-report.html

Health Canada. (2020). Personal Communication with the Health Evaluation Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship. (2015). Personal communication with K. Philip, Office of Drinking Water. Monitoring period: 2010-2015.

Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques. (2015). Personal communication with C. Robert, Division de l'eau potable, Direction des eaux municipales. Monitoring period: 2010-2014.

New Brunswick Department of Health. (2015). Personal communication with K. Gould, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Healthy Environments Branch. Monitoring period: 2010-2015 for most data; some data 2008-2009 only.

Nova Scotia Environment. (2015). Personal communication with A. Polegato, Drinking Water Management Unit, Science Division. Monitoring period: 2007-2011.

Ontario Ministry of the Environment. (2015). Personal communication with S. Deshpande, Water Standards Section, Standards Development Branch. Monitoring period: 2010-2015.

Prince Edward Island Department of Communities, Land and Environment. (2015). Personal communication with G. Somers, Drinking Water and Wastewater Management, Environment Division. Monitoring period: 2004-2014, varying by contaminant.

Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. (2015). Personal communication with S. Ferris, Environmental and Municipal Management Services Division. Monitoring period: 2010-2015.

C.2 List of abbreviations

ADI

acceptable daily intake

AI

active ingredient

CDW

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water

GCDWQ

Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality

MAC

maximum acceptable concentration

NDI

negligible daily intake

PMRA

Pest Management Regulatory Agency

US EPA

United States Environmental Protection Agency

WHO

World Health Organization