EK35® Environmental Perspective
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. is committed to providing comprehensive and relevant environmental information about our products. Working with various testing laboratories and regulatory organizations enables us to provide unbiased environmental and toxicity data that we use to develop the best dust control and stabilization programs for our customers.
Choosing the right product for an application is more that picking the product with good or sufficient dust control efficiency. It means evaluating the application and understanding all the needs of the customer including environmentally sensitive areas, regulatory constraints, aesthetics, customer preferences, operational or process concerns, and climate. Understanding the environmental and toxicity data and relating it to typical applications and site-specific needs is an important aspect of what Midwest does when working with our customers.
The conclusion of the information presented herein is that all testing shows EK35®, when applied properly, will not negatively impact soil quality. Aquatic toxicity testing of EK35® shows a range of toxicity from practically non-toxic to moderately toxic depending on the species and the exposure time. This information is critical in determining the suitability of EK35® for an application. EK35® was developed for and is recommended for industrial applications where aquatic exposure is not an issue. Generic risk assessment will not replace a conscientious site-specific evaluation, but the data used in this perspective is a necessary component for all risk assessments.
The US EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program protocol for Dust Suppression Products evaluated bulk constituents as well as aquatic toxicity on EK35®. The purpose of the program was to verify the level of dust control (particulate matter, PM, control efficiency) of EK35® and accumulate environmental data. The US EPA protocol did not allow for commentary on the environmental data.
The US EPA does however have regulatory guidelines that enable us to assess the potential impact of EK35® on the environment. The test results used for this Environmental Impact Perspective can be found in Appendix A and B of the US EPA ETV report on EK35® or on the Midwest Website.
1. Tri-State Laboratories, Chemical Analysis, July 2002
2. ABC Laboratories, Various Species Toxicity, September 2002
3. ABC Laboratories, Rainbow Trout Toxicity, September 2003
Chemically, EK35® is a patent pending synthetic fluid. It is produced by a reaction of specific purified chemical feedstock that is treated via extreme heat, pressure and catalyst during hydrocracking, hydrotreating and hydroisomerization to create a synthetic iso-alkane. Further formulating and blending with naturally occurring rosins impart the rheological and cohesive properties unique to EK35®. EK35® is a non-aqueous liquid that is not water soluble or dilutable.
Application rates vary with soil type and properties and the desired end result of the project. EK35® is applied topically to the surface of the road with specially designed applicator trucks. Typical application rates range from 0.09 gal / yd2 to 0.30 gal / yd2. For purposes of this environmental impact analysis the application used in calculations was 0.45 gal / yd2, the same total application as that used in the dust control efficiency analysis at Fort Leonard Wood in October 2003.
A full range chemical analysis was performed on EK35® by Tri-State Labs. Composition analysis included: volatile organic compounds (VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), metals, herbicides/herbicides and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Please see TSL, September 2003 for full analysis. Seven metals and 1 VOC were detected in EK35®.
The US EPA has developed Risk Based Concentrations (RBC) tables for numerous toxic chemicals. These tables list the levels in various media (i.e.: fish, tap water, ground water, ambient air, industrial soil and residential soil) that a chemical can be present in that media and impart little if any risk to humans. The October 2005 Risk Based Concentrations (RBC) Table from EPA Region III was used in this evaluation. The EK35® application rate used was 0.40 gal / yd2, one (1) inch depth penetration was assumed and a soil density of 2.8 g/cm3 was used for calculations. Chemical level in the soil was compared to the RBC levels in residential soil. Analysis shows that at a heavy application of EK35®, for all detected constituents, the levels are significantly lower than the RBC levels in residential soil. Therefore, EK35® is safe for use in terms of environmental impact. The results are tabulated in the table below.
Chemical Constituent EK35® Level (mg/kg) Soil Level (mg/kg) RBC level (mg/kg)
Aluminum 1.2500 0.0320 78,000
Cadmium 0.0440 0.0011 78
Copper 0.0440 0.0011 3100
Iron 31.8000 0.8080 23,000
Manganese 0.1600 0.0040 1,600
Silver 1.0300 0.0008 390
Zinc 0.1420 0.0036 23,000
1,2-dichloroethane 150.0000 3.8100 7
Toxicological evaluation of EK35® utilized EPA methods for both acute and chronic toxicity determination for aquatic organisms. LC50 values were determined for each of the species. The table below contains a synopsis of the results.
EK35 Aquatic Toxicity Test Results
*Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Water to Freshwater and Marine Organisms, EPA/600/4-90/027F.
*Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms, EPA/600/4-91/002.
*Short-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Water to Marine and Estuarine Organisms, EPA/600/4-91/003.
Ceriodaphnia dubia Fathead minnow Americamysis bahia Rainbow Trout
ACUTE/SURVIVAL (mg/L)
LC50 >1000 271 111 --
NOEC 1000 125 63 --
LOEC >1000 250 130 --
CHRONIC/SURVIVAL (mg/L)
LC50 >1000 97.3 58.6 23
NOEC 500 31.3 25 10
LOEC 1000 62.5 50 20
CHRONIC/GROWTH/ REPRODUCTION (mg/L)
LC50 375 114 >50 >10
NOEC 250 31.3 50 10
LOEC 500 62.5 >50 >10
See attached test results:
1. ABC Laboratories, Inc. Americamysis bahia, Fathead minnow, Ceriodaphnia dubia.
2. ABC Laboratories, Inc. Rainbow Trout
LC50 -Lethal Concentration, 50%
NOEC - No Observable Effects Concentration
LOEC - Lowest Observable Effects Concentration
The LC50 level is the lethal concentration of the chemical under test that kills 50% of the test organisms in the specified amount of time. According to the EPA-540-9-85-006, suggested toxicity criteria for materials are listed in the table below.
LC50 (mg/L) Category Description
<0.1 Very highly toxic
0.1 - 1 Highly toxic
1 - 10 Moderately toxic
10 -100 Slightly toxic
>100 Practically non-toxic
Comparison of the EPA guidelines to the LC50 of EK35® show a range of toxicity from practically non-toxic to moderately toxic depending on the species and the exposure time.
In conclusion, all testing shows EK35®, when applied properly, will not negatively impact soil quality. Aquatic toxicity testing of EK35® shows a range of toxicity from practically non-toxic to moderately toxic depending on the species and the exposure time. This information is critical in determining the suitability of EK35® for an application. EK35® was developed for and is recommended for industrial applications where aquatic exposure is not an issue. Generic risk assessment will not replace a conscientious site-specific evaluation, but the data used in this perspective is a necessary component for all risk assessments.
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