About the searchable HBSL database

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.

USEPA toxicity information in the database

The HBSL database contains U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) cancer classifications and toxicity values (oral Reference Dose (RfD) and oral Slope Factor (SF) values). Data are collected from three USEPA offices and five data sources. See "What hierarchy of toxicity information is used to calculate HBSLs?" and "How are HBSLs calculated?" for more information about USEPA cancer classifications and toxicity values.

Database maintenance and updates

The Health-Based Screening Level (HBSL) database is maintained by the USGS and the Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems at the Oregon Health & Science University. Approximately monthly, the five U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) data sources are reviewed for any updates to cancer classifications or toxicity values. Any updated information is entered into the database and evaluated to determine whether the updates affect HBSL calculations. All new database entries or revisions resulting from the monthly review are subjected to a quality-control process. When the database is searched, the data output for HBSL values or USEPA toxicity information will include the date of the most recent database update.

Database quality-control procedures

Two types of data quality-control procedures were performed for data in the Health-Based Screening Level (HBSL) database: (1) verification of toxicity information collected from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) data sources and (2) verification of HBSL values and the methodology and information used to calculate them. These two procedures are described below.

(1) Toxicity information collected from USEPA data sources was entered into the HBSL database. After data entry, each record was manually re-checked against its original USEPA data source. Any incorrect values were corrected in the database with the correction date noted. The process was then repeated to ensure that the corrections made were accurate (see figure). This quality-control procedure is followed each time updates are made to the database (approximately monthly) and it is given a high priority to minimize data entry errors.

(2) Using toxicity information collected from USEPA data sources, HBSL values were independently calculated by individuals from USGS and the Oregon Health & Science University. The independently calculated HBSL values were compared with each other and discrepancies were iterated and resolved before the values were entered into the database. When an HBSL differs from an existing USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory value and the reason for the difference is not apparent (i.e., the same USEPA Office of Water toxicity value and calculation method are used for the HBSL and Lifetime Health Advisory), USGS consults with USEPA's Office of Water to identify the reason for the discrepancy. This procedure is followed each time updates to toxicity information result in an update to an HBSL value.