National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
2-Methyl naphthalene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
2-Methyl naphthalene is a chemical used to make dyes, resins and pharmaceuticals (such as vitamin K); it is released into the environment from burning fossil fuels, industrial discharges, tar and asphalt.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 1 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 2 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 14,895 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for 2-Methyl naphthalene:
- Occupational hazards
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Cancer
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
2-Methyl naphthalene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 1 states have reported detecting 2-Methyl naphthalene 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-Methyl naphthalene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 2 | 14,895 |
| Total | 2 | 14,895 |
The Most Polluted Communities
2 water utilities reported detecting 2-Methyl naphthalene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average 2-Methyl naphthalene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumn Woods Mobile Home Park Wyoming, DE | 75 | 1 of 1 | 0.2 ppb (0.2 ppb) |
| 2 | Long Neck Water Company Long Neck, DE | 14,820 | 1 of 3 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.03 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for 2-Methyl naphthalene
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Health-Based Screening Level | A benchmark concentration of contaminants in water that may be of potential concern for human health, if exceeded. For noncarcinogens, the HBSL represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse effects over a lifetime of exposure. For carcinogens, the HBSL range represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that corresponds to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 chance in 1 million to 1 chance in 10 thousand. Source: U.S. Geological Survey. | 30 ppb |
Testing Summary for 2-Methyl naphthalene
| Are tests routinely required for 2-Methyl naphthalene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for 2-Methyl naphthalene (2004-2007): | 230 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2007): | 0.6 per year |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (Elsevier Science, P 2004 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | NAPHTHALENE, 2-METHYL- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | Data are inadequate for an assessment of human carcinogenic potential |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | NAPHTHALENE, 2-METHYL- | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Limited or emerging evidence in open scientific literature |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (Elsevier Science, P 2004 | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, Foth, H. Role of the Lung in Accumulation and Metabolism of Xenobiotic compounds - Implications for Chemically Induced Toxicity. Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 25(2): 165-205. 1995. (Table 1:Toxic Damage of Lung by Foreign Compounds). |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (Elsevier Science, P 2004 | RTECS®- Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (Elsevier Science, P.O.Box 7247-7682,Philadelphia,PA 19170 -7682,USA OR Elsevier Science B.V.,P.O.Box 1270,1000 BG Amsterdam,The Netherlands) V.1- Feb.1996- 16,153,2004 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 208,155,1988 |
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