TOX Reports describe the toxicology of specific chemicals or groups of chemicals and recommend health criteria values (HCV) for use in the derivation of Soil Guideline Values.
HCV describe the levels at which long-term human exposure to chemicals in soil is tolerable or poses a minimal risk.
TOX Reports have been prepared in accordance with the CLEA framework reports from a review of published literature and expert group evaluations. We have closely involved the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) in preparation of these documents.
Available TOX Reports (2009 onwards)
Heavy metals and other inorganic compounds
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Arsenic (PDF, 1MB)
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Nickel (PDF, 1MB) *****The Environment Agency withdrew the SGV and associated reports for nickel in 2015 following the release of new information by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the health risks from nickel. The withdrawn report is included here for reference****
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Mercury (PDF, 1.15MB) *****The Environment Agency withdrew the SGV and associated reports for mercury in November 2018 following the release of new information by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The withdrawn report is included here for reference****
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Selenium (PDF, 1.17MB)
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Cadmium (PDF, 678 KB)
BTEX
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Benzene (PDF, 1.33MB)
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Toluene (PDF, 1.18MB)
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Ethylbenzene (PDF, 1.19MB)
- Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans: Xylenes (PDF, 1.26MB)
Dioxins
Other organic compounds
Older TOX Reports (prior to 2009)
EA published a new framework report for preparing TOX Reports in 2009. The following TOX Reports were published between 2002 and 2008, and follow older guidance (R&D Publication CLR9) that has now been withdrawn. Much of the existing information is still useful for understanding the toxicity of these chemicals but care should be taken in using the derived HCV in assessing health risks from land contamination. Assessors should consider whether more recent evaluations of the toxicity of these chemicals have been published by other authoritative organisations.
Heavy metals and other inorganic compounds
The toxicology report for lead (originally published in 2002 under the old approach) has been withdrawn. See FAQ.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Chlorinated solvents
- 1,2-dichloroethane - old approach (TOX 22) (PDF, 342KB)
- tetrachloroethane - old approach (TOX 16) (PDF, 88KB)
- trichloroethene - old approach (TOX 24) (PDF, 372KB)
- vinyl chloride - old approach (TOX 18) (PDF, 103KB)
- carbon tetrachloride - old approach (TOX 21) (PDF, 158KB)
- tetrachloroethene - old approach (TOX 23) (PDF, 117KB)
- trichloroethane - old approach (TOX 25) (PDF, 122KB)