National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
2-Hexanone
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
2-Hexanone is a manufactured chemical formerly used in paint and paint thinner, to make other chemical substances, and to dissolve oils and waxes; it may form in tap water as a result of ozonation.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 2 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 17 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 97,560 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for 2-Hexanone:
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Occupational hazards
- Cancer
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Neurotoxicity
2-Hexanone Exposure by State
Water utilities in 2 states have reported detecting 2-Hexanone in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with 2-Hexanone contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Texas | 16 | 83,560 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 14,000 |
| Total | 17 | 97,560 |
The Most Polluted Communities
17 water utilities reported detecting 2-Hexanone in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average 2-Hexanone level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ledbetter Wsc Ledbetter, TX | 528 | 1 of 1 | 1.2 ppb (1.2 ppb) |
| 2 | South River W Dept South River, NJ | 14,000 | 1 of 3 | 0.83 ppb (0 to 2.5 ppb) |
| 3 | J B Mhp Houston, TX | 75 | 1 of 2 | 0.8 ppb (0 to 1.6 ppb) |
| 4 | Bender Creek Apartments Austin, TX | 312 | 1 of 2 | 0.6 ppb (0 to 1.2 ppb) |
| 5 | Atascocita Village Mobile Home Park Humble, TX | 701 | 1 of 2 | 0.6 ppb (0 to 1.2 ppb) |
| 6 | Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park Baytown, TX | 48 | 1 of 2 | 0.55 ppb (0 to 1.1 ppb) |
| 7 | Cedar Bayou Estates Baytown, TX | 60 | 1 of 2 | 0.55 ppb (0 to 1.1 ppb) |
| 8 | Fayette Wsc West La Grange, TX | 2,390 | 1 of 4 | 0.53 ppb (0 to 2.1 ppb) |
| 9 | B & J Water Co Bedias, TX | 450 | 1 of 1 | 0.5 ppb (0.5 ppb) |
| 10 | Mill Creek Estates Magnolia, TX | 210 | 1 of 2 | 0.5 ppb (0 to 1 ppb) |
Testing Summary for 2-Hexanone
| Are tests routinely required for 2-Hexanone by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for 2-Hexanone (2004-2009): | 3,513 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at low doses | EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Miscellaneous
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| nervous system - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | HEXAN-2-ONE;;METHYL BUTYL KETONE; BUTYL METHYL KETONE;;METHYL-N-BUTYL KETONE | •Flammable •Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity •Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation •Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | METHYL N-BUTYL KETONE | • S |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | HEXAN-2-ONE | •Prohibited in EU cosmetics: must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | 2-HEXANONE | •Skin Designation (ACGIH) - Danger of cutaneous absorption (ACGIH): Yes; •Restricted - Regulations that have banned or restricted the use of the agent: '. . . the sole manufacturer ceased production a number of years ago.' [LaDou, p. 527]; •Neurotoxin: Motor Neuropathy; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 100 ppm; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 10 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 16000 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 5 ppm; •BEI - Biological Exposure Indices (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene, ACGIH): 2,5-Hexanedione (free) in urine = 0.4 mg/L end of shift at end of workweek;;FL: 3: |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | METHYL N-BUTYL KETONE | •Pesticide inerts of toxicological concern according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | 2-HEXANONE | •This chemical was deemed a high human health priority even though it did not meet the strict criteria of the categorization exercise of CEPA. The chemical was flagged for reproductive concerns. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | HEXAN-2-ONE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | EC (European Commission of the European Union). 1999-2006. Enterprise Directorate-General Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. The rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union, Volume 1, "Cosmetics legislation." |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,283,1986 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,126,1971 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1994 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 341,83,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
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