Ohio VAP Soil Standards - SVOCs and PAHs
Ohio VAP soil standards for SVOCs and PAHs including benzo(a)pyrene, phthalates, and dioxins. CIDARS February 2025.
Overview
These are the Ohio VAP generic direct-contact soil standards (GDCSS) for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the CIDARS database, effective February 16, 2025 with the updated VAP rules.
SVOCs encompass a wide range of organic compounds that are less volatile than VOCs but still pose human health risks through soil ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation of particulates. PAHs - a subset of SVOCs - are among the most commonly encountered contaminants at former industrial sites, manufactured gas plants, and properties with historical petroleum or coal-related operations.
The table below shows the GDCSS values - the lower of the non-cancer and cancer-based standards for each land use category. These are the numbers you compare your analytical results against.
Generic Direct Contact Soil Standards - SVOCs and PAHs
| Chemical | CAS Number | Residential (mg/kg) | Commercial/Industrial (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acenaphthene | 83-32-9 | 7,200 | 130,000 |
| Acetophenone | 98-86-2 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Acetylaminofluorene, 2- | 53-96-3 | 2.9 | 19 |
| Acrylamide | 79-06-1 | 4.9 | 140 |
| Aminobiphenyl, 4- | 92-67-1 | 0.5167 | 3.4 |
| Ammonium Sulfamate | 7773-06-0 | 31,000 | 930,000 |
| Aniline | 62-53-3 | 880 | 12,000 |
| Anthracene | 120-12-7 | 36,000 | 670,000 |
| Auramine | 492-80-8 | 12 | 81 |
| Benzenethiol | 108-98-5 | 160 | 1,300 |
| Benzidine | 92-87-5 | 0.0106 | 0.308 |
| Benz[a]anthracene | 56-55-3 | 23 | 610 |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 50-32-8 | 2.3 | 62 |
| Benzo[b]fluoranthene | 205-99-2 | 23 | 620 |
| Benzo[k]fluoranthene | 207-08-9 | 230 | 6,200 |
| Benzoic Acid | 65-85-0 | 460,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Biphenyl, 1,1'- | 92-52-4 | 1,700 | 16,000 |
| Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane | 111-91-1 | 380 | 7,600 |
| Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether | 111-44-4 | 5.3 | 30 |
| Bis(chloromethyl)ether | 542-88-1 | 0.00207 | 0.0092 |
| Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate | 117-81-7 | 160 | 5,100 |
| Butyl Benzyl Phthlate | 85-68-7 | 5,700 | 37,000 |
| Cacodylic Acid | 75-60-5 | 2,500 | 51,000 |
| Carbosulfan | 55285-14-8 | 1,300 | 25,000 |
| Chloramben | 133-90-4 | 1,900 | 38,000 |
| Chloro-2-methylaniline HCl, 4- | 3165-93-3 | 24 | 150 |
| Chloroacetic Acid | 79-11-8 | 440 | 8,900 |
| Chloroacetophenone, 2- | 532-27-4 | 7,400 | 250,000 |
| Chloroaniline, p- | 106-47-8 | 54 | 350 |
| Chlorobenzilate | 510-15-6 | 99 | 640 |
| Chloronaphthalene, Beta- | 91-58-7 | 9,600 | 180,000 |
| Chlorophenol, 2- | 95-57-8 | 780 | 23,000 |
| Chrysene | 218-01-9 | 2,300 | 62,000 |
| Cresol, m- | 108-39-4 | 6,300 | 130,000 |
| Cresol, o- | 95-48-7 | 6,300 | 130,000 |
| Cresol, p- | 106-44-5 | 2,500 | 51,000 |
| Cresol, p-chloro-m- | 59-50-7 | 13,000 | 250,000 |
| Cresols | 1319-77-3 | 13,000 | 250,000 |
| Diallate | 2303-16-4 | 180 | 1,200 |
| Dibenz[a,h]anthracene | 53-70-3 | 2.3 | 62 |
| Dibutyl Phthalate | 84-74-2 | 13,000 | 250,000 |
| Dichlorobenzene, 1,2- | 95-50-1 | 380 | 380 |
| Dichlorobenzene, 1,4- | 106-46-7 | 65 | 290 |
| Dichlorobenzidine, 3,3'- | 91-94-1 | 23 | 150 |
| Dichlorophenol, 2,4- | 120-83-2 | 380 | 7,600 |
| Dichloropropionic acid, 2,2- | 75-99-0 | 3,800 | 76,000 |
| Diethanolamine | 111-42-2 | 250 | 5,000 |
| Diethyl Phthalate | 84-66-2 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Diethylstilbestrol | 56-53-1 | 0.031 | 0.2024 |
| Dimethoxybenzidine, 3,3'- | 119-90-4 | 6.8 | 44 |
| Dimethylamino azobenzene [p-] | 60-11-7 | 2.4 | 15 |
| Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, 7,12- | 57-97-6 | 0.0092 | 0.249 |
| Dimethylbenzidine, 3,3'- | 119-93-7 | 0.9865 | 6.4 |
| Dimethylphenol, 2,4- | 105-67-9 | 2,500 | 51,000 |
| Dinitrobenzene, 1,2- | 528-29-0 | 13 | 250 |
| Dinitrobenzene, 1,3- | 99-65-0 | 13 | 250 |
| Dinitrobenzene, 1,4- | 100-25-4 | 13 | 250 |
| Dinitro-o-cyclohexyl Phenol, 4,6- | 131-89-5 | 250 | 5,100 |
| Dinitrophenol, 2,4- | 51-28-5 | 250 | 5,100 |
| Dinitrotoluene, 2,4- | 121-14-2 | 35 | 230 |
| Dinitrotoluene, 2,6- | 606-20-2 | 7.3 | 47 |
| Dinitrotoluene Mixture, 2,4/2,6 | 25321-14-6 | 15.9585 | 100 |
| Diphenylhydrazine, 1,2- | 122-66-7 | 14 | 89 |
| Diquat | 2764-72-9 | 280 | 5,600 |
| Endothall | 145-73-3 | 2,500 | 51,000 |
| Epichlorohydrin | 106-89-8 | 47 | 210 |
| Ethylene Glycol | 107-21-1 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Ethylene Thiourea | 96-45-7 | 10 | 200 |
| Fluoranthene | 206-44-0 | 4,800 | 89,000 |
| Fluorene | 86-73-7 | 1,200 | 89,000 |
| Furan | 110-00-9 | 160 | 4,700 |
| Furfural | 98-01-1 | 440 | 9,200 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 118-74-1 | 1.5643 | 29 |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | 87-68-3 | 17 | 17 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 77-47-4 | 4.4 | 16 |
| Hexachloroethane | 67-72-1 | 45 | 210 |
| Hexachlorophene | 70-30-4 | 38 | 760 |
| Hexamethylene Diisocyanate, 1,6- | 822-06-0 | 7.9 | 33 |
| Hexamethylphosphoramide | 680-31-9 | 51 | 1,000 |
| Hexanedioic Acid | 124-04-9 | 250,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Hydroquinone | 123-31-9 | 180 | 1,200 |
| Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene | 193-39-5 | 23 | 620 |
| Isophorone | 78-59-1 | 11,000 | 75,000 |
| Maleic Anhydride | 108-31-6 | 13,000 | 240,000 |
| Maleic Hydrazide | 123-33-1 | 63,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Malononitrile | 109-77-3 | 13 | 250 |
| Methomyl | 16752-77-5 | 3,200 | 63,000 |
| Methylaniline Hydrochloride, 2- | 636-21-5 | 83 | 540 |
| Methylcholanthrene, 3- | 56-49-5 | 0.1108 | 3.2 |
| Methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline), 4,4'- | 101-14-4 | 24 | 710 |
| Methylenebisbenzenamine, 4,4'- | 101-77-9 | 6.8 | 44 |
| Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate | 101-68-8 | 4,900 | 1,000,000 |
| Methylnaphthalene, 1- | 90-12-0 | 0.4605 | 1.9 |
| Methylnaphthalene, 2- | 91-57-6 | 480 | 8,900 |
| Methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, N- | 70-25-7 | 1.3074 | 8.5 |
| Naled | 300-76-5 | 310 | 9,300 |
| Naphthylamine, 2- | 91-59-8 | 6.0288 | 39 |
| Nitroaniline, 4- | 100-01-6 | 510 | 3,500 |
| Nitrobenzene | 98-95-3 | 130 | 560 |
| Nitroglycerin | 55-63-0 | 13 | 250 |
| Nitropropane, 2- | 79-46-9 | 690 | 2,900 |
| Nitrosodiethanolamine, N- | 1116-54-7 | 3.9 | 25 |
| Nitrosodiethylamine, N- | 55-18-5 | 0.0162 | 0.472 |
| Nitrosodimethylamine, N- | 62-75-9 | 0.0429 | 1.062 |
| Nitroso-di-N-butylamine, N- | 924-16-3 | 2.0762 | 15.965 |
| Nitroso-di-N-propylamine, N- | 621-64-7 | 1.5502 | 10 |
| Nitrosodiphenylamine, N- | 86-30-6 | 2,200 | 14,000 |
| Nitrosomorpholine [N-] | 59-89-2 | 1.6196 | 11 |
| Nitroso-N-ethylurea, N- | 759-73-9 | 0.0903 | 2.6 |
| Nitroso-N-methylurea, N- | 684-93-5 | 0.0203 | 0.59 |
| Nitrosopiperidine [N-] | 100-75-4 | 1.1544 | 7.5 |
| Nitrosopyrrolidine, N- | 930-55-2 | 5.2 | 34 |
| Nitrotoluene, o- | 88-72-2 | 63 | 590 |
| Nitrotoluene, p- | 99-99-0 | 510 | 4,400 |
| Octamethylpyrophosphoramide | 152-16-9 | 250 | 5,100 |
| Octyl Phthalate, di-N- | 117-84-0 | 1,300 | 25,000 |
| Oxamyl | 23135-22-0 | 3,200 | 63,000 |
| Pentachlorobenzene | 608-93-5 | 130 | 3,700 |
| Pentachloroethane | 76-01-7 | 150 | 460 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 87-86-5 | 20 | 100 |
| Phenacetin | 62-44-2 | 4,900 | 32,000 |
| Phenol | 108-95-2 | 38,000 | 760,000 |
| Phenylmercuric Acetate | 62-38-4 | 10 | 200 |
| Phorate | 298-02-2 | 25 | 510 |
| Phosphoric Acid | 7664-38-2 | 160,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Phthalic Anhydride | 85-44-9 | 250,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Pronamide | 23950–58–5 | 9,500 | 190,000 |
| Propargite | 2312-35-8 | 57 | 370 |
| Propham | 122-42-9 | 2,500 | 51,000 |
| Propoxur (Baygon) | 114-26-1 | 510 | 10,000 |
| Pyrene | 129-00-0 | 3,600 | 67,000 |
| Pyridine | 110-86-1 | 160 | 4,700 |
| Quinoline | 91-22-5 | 3.6 | 24 |
| Safrole | 94-59-7 | 11 | 320 |
| Strychnine | 57-24-9 | 38 | 760 |
| TCDD, 2,3,7,8- | 1746-01-6 | 9.603e-05 | 0.00076385 |
| Tetrachlorophenol, 2,3,4,6- | 58-90-2 | 3,800 | 76,000 |
| Tetraethyl Dithiopyrophosphate | 3689-24-5 | 63 | 1,300 |
| Tetrahydrofuran | 109-99-9 | 43,000 | 170,000 |
| Thiofanox | 39196-18-4 | 38 | 760 |
| Thiophanate, Methyl | 23564-05-8 | 900 | 5,900 |
| Thiram | 137-26-8 | 1,900 | 38,000 |
| Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate | 584-84-9 | 0.6695 | 2.8 |
| Toluene-2,6-diisocyanate | 91-08-7 | 13 | 56 |
| Toluidine, p- | 106-49-0 | 360 | 2,400 |
| Triallate | 2303-17-5 | 190 | 1,800 |
| Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4- | 120-82-1 | 140 | 400 |
| Trichlorophenol, 2,4,5- | 95-95-4 | 13,000 | 250,000 |
| Trichlorophenol, 2,4,6- | 88-06-2 | 130 | 2,500 |
| Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, 2,4,5- | 93-76-5 | 1,300 | 25,000 |
| Trichlorophenoxypropionic acid, -2,4,5 | 93-72-1 | 1,000 | 20,000 |
| Trimethylbenzene, 1,2,3- | 526-73-8 | 290 | 290 |
| Trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4- | 95-63-6 | 220 | 220 |
| Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5- | 108-67-8 | 180 | 180 |
| Trinitrobenzene, 1,3,5- | 99-35-4 | 1,100 | 120,000 |
| Urethane | 51-79-6 | 2.4 | 71 |
| Warfarin | 81-81-2 | 38 | 760 |
| Acenaphthylene | 208-96-8 | 7,200 | 130,000 |
| Benzo(g,h,i)perylene | 191-24-2 | 3,600 | 67,000 |
| Dibenzofuran | 132-64-9 | 160 | 4,700 |
| Dimethyl phthalate | 131-11-3 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Dinitro-o-cresol, 4,6- | 534-52-1 | 10 | 200 |
| Nitrotoluene, m- | 99-08-1 | 13 | 250 |
| Phenanthrene | 85-01-8 | 36,000 | 670,000 |
No results found.
Key Compounds to Watch
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)
BaP is typically the risk-driving PAH at contaminated sites. Its residential GDCSS of 230 mg/kg is relatively high, but the commercial/industrial GDCSS of 5.9 mg/kg is much more restrictive - driven by the cancer-based standard. BaP is the index compound for PAH carcinogenicity and serves as the basis for relative potency factors used in risk assessment.
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
With a commercial/industrial GDCSS of 5.9 mg/kg and residential GDCSS of 1,000 mg/kg, this compound is one of the most restrictive PAHs. It has comparable carcinogenic potency to BaP.
TCDD (2,3,7,8-Dioxin)
The residential GDCSS of 0.01 mg/kg (10 ppb) and commercial/industrial GDCSS of 0.00027 mg/kg (0.27 ppb) make dioxin the most restrictive compound in this table by orders of magnitude. Dioxin contamination requires specialized analytical methods and very low detection limits.
1-Methylnaphthalene
Often overlooked, 1-methylnaphthalene has a residential GDCSS of only 7.1 mg/kg and a commercial/industrial GDCSS of 1.5 mg/kg - more restrictive than many PAHs. This compound is common at petroleum sites and can be a surprise exceedance if not anticipated in the analytical program.
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)
The residential GDCSS of 160 mg/kg is driven by the soil saturation limit in the residential scenario. DEHP is a common plasticizer and frequent laboratory contaminant - always check your method blanks before concluding that a DEHP detection represents site contamination.
Practical Notes
- PAHs are rarely found alone. If you detect one PAH above standards, you’ll likely have multiple PAHs above standards. This is because PAHs occur as mixtures from combustion or petroleum sources.
- Background PAH concentrations in urban soils can be significant. Ohio urban soils commonly have low-level PAH detections from atmospheric deposition, especially near roads and industrial areas. Background sampling may be warranted at sites with low-level PAH detections.
- Lab method matters. SVOCs are typically analyzed by EPA Method 8270 (GC/MS). Make sure your laboratory’s reporting limits are below the applicable GDCSS values - particularly for BaP, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and TCDD.
- Carcinogenic PAHs include: benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. The remaining PAHs are evaluated on a non-cancer basis only.
- The GDCSS is the lower of non-cancer and cancer standards for each land use. For carcinogenic PAHs at commercial/industrial land use, the cancer-based standard is almost always the driver.
Related Standards
Ohio VAP soil GDCSS for SVOCs and PAHs - residential, commercial/industrial, and construction worker land use categories. Source: CIDARS February 2025.