Request for Scientific Views: Draft Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the release of the draft of Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin--2016 for a 60-day public comment. These are the draft recommended concentrations of the toxins microcystins and cylindrospermopsin in recreational water protective of human health while swimming or participating in other activities on the water. Recreational exposure to the microcystins and cylindrospermopsin produced by cyanobacteria has the potential to result in liver and kidney toxicity, respectively. The recommended values found in this draft document do not replace or supersede the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC) recommendations for E. coli and Enterococcus. Rather, once final, they will supplement the 2012 RWQC to provide further public health protection for additional, potentially hazardous conditions found in ambient recreational waters. Following closure of this 60-day public comment period, EPA will consider the comments, revise the draft document, as appropriate, and then publish a final document that will provide recommendations for States and authorized Tribes to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Alternatively, States and authorized Tribes may use these same values as the basis of swimming advisories for public notification purposes.