Nonregulatory levels of contaminants in drinking water that may be used as guidance in the absence of regulatory limits. They consist of estimates of concentrations that would result in no known or anticipated health effects (for carcinogens, a specified cancer risk) determined for a child or for an adult for various exposure periods.
An EPA document that provides guidance and information on contaminants that can affect human health and that may occur in drinking water, but which EPA does not currently regulate in drinking water.
Information on contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known, or anticipated, to occur in drinking water. Health Advisories are federal guidance values based on non-cancer health effects for different durations of exposure (e.g., one-day, ten-day, and lifetime).
A non-enforceable guideline set by the EPA used to evaluate the health significance of a contaminant in drinking water when no MCL has been set for that contaminant by the EPA.
A health advisory (HA) is a non-regulatory health-based reference level of chemical traces (usually monitored in parts per billion (ppb)) in drinking water at which there are no adverse health risks when ingested over various periods of time. Health advisory levels are established for 1 day, 10 day, longer terms, and lifetime exposure periods. These are based on data obtained from extensive laboratory studies. They also include a large margin of safety.
Issued in some regions along with Smog Advisories, recommending that people with certain health considerations consult their physicians.