Compounds in the database
Data for 436 unregulated compounds analyzed by the USGS's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program are in the Health-Based Screening Level (HBSL) database:
- 158 Pesticides
- 81 Pesticide degradation products
- 66 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- 60 Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as phenols, amines, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- 31 Emerging contaminants such as manufacturing additives, personal care & domestic use products, and plant- or animal-derived biochemicals
- 11 Major ions
- 15 Trace elements
- 7 Nutrients
- 7 Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds
Chemical classes in the HBSL database were assigned on a chemical-by-chemical basis. Chemical classes were designated using USGS analytical schedules, USGS reports, other government agency websites and databases, and the primary literature. When available, HBSL values and information about how each HBSL value was calculated can be obtained from the HBSL database.