North Carolina state water quality standards require the protection of all aquatic species from the effects of pollution or other man-induced detriment. Though many numeric water quality standards are based on the measured effects of individual chemicals, measurements can be made of only a small percentage of the chemicals in production today and those measurements cannot predict the effects of complex chemical mixtures. In order to evaluate these biological effects, aquatic toxicology tests are utilized by the Aquatic Toxicology Branch (ATB), allowing for the determination of the combined effects of all constituents of a solution.

ATB Programs and Information

Information for Permitted Facilities

Updated Whole Effluent Toxicity Dual Reporting Requirement 

Information for Certified Biological Testing Laboratories

NC Whole Effluent Biological Certification Rules, 15A NCAC 02H .1100-.1111

ATB Staff Contacts: 

Main Number  919-743-8401

1621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1621