What is the regulatory level for benzene under the RCRA Toxicity Characteristic rule?

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Toxicity Characteristic rule, benzene is regulated at a level of 0.5 mg/l. This means that if the concentration of benzene in a liquid waste exceeds this threshold, the waste is classified as hazardous due to its toxicity. The Toxicity Characteristic is designed to identify wastes that may pose a threat to human health and the environment if they are improperly managed.

By establishing this specific regulatory limit, the RCRA aims to ensure that hazardous wastes containing toxic constituents like benzene are adequately monitored and handled to prevent leaching into groundwater or posing other environmental risks. Such strict measures help protect public health by minimizing exposure to hazardous substances that can cause adverse health effects, including cancer, when present in significant concentrations in the environment.