National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Carbofuran
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Carbofuran is a highly toxic insecticide and soil fumigant that had been used on corn, rice and alfalfa; it poses severe risks to children (via diet), agricultural workers and the environment. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 5 |
1 |
- |
| Water utilities | 19 |
1 |
- |
| People Served | 781,570 |
150 |
- |
Health Concerns for Carbofuran:
- Allergies/immunotoxicity
- Neurotoxicity
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Endocrine disruption
- Occupational hazards
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Cancer
- Ecotoxicology
- Multiple, additive exposure sources
Carbofuran Exposure by State
Water utilities in 5 states have reported detecting Carbofuran in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Carbofuran contamination | Water suppliers reporting Carbofuran above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 150 | 1 | 150 |
| Florida | 4 | 502,945 | 0 | 0 |
| Delaware | 12 | 243,025 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 34,650 | 0 | 0 |
| New York | 1 | 800 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 781,570 | 1 | 150 |
The Most Polluted Communities
19 water utilities reported detecting Carbofuran in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Carbofuran level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poynette Mobile Estates Poynette, WI | 150 | 1 of 1 | 2.5 ppb (2.5 ppb) |
| 2 | Mcwa, Genesee West Rochester, NY | 800 | 1 of 2 | 0.45 ppb (0 to 0.9 ppb) |
| 3 | Windsong Farms Newark, DE | 450 | 1 of 2 | 0.27 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 4 | Cedar Landing Newark, DE | 320 | 1 of 2 | 0.27 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 5 | Delaware Correctional Center Smyrna, DE | 2,000 | 1 of 2 | 0.27 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 6 | Augustine Creek Port Penn, DE | 425 | 1 of 2 | 0.27 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 7 | Thomas Cove Newark, DE | 3,400 | 1 of 3 | 0.18 ppb (0 to 0.55 ppb) |
| 8 | City of Homestead Homestead, FL | 39,000 | 1 of 3 | 0.17 ppb (0 to 0.5 ppb) |
| 9 | Florida City Florida City, FL | 9,445 | 1 of 3 | 0.17 ppb (0 to 0.5 ppb) |
| 10 | City of Hallandale Beach Hallandale Beach, FL | 40,000 | 1 of 7 | 0.14 ppb (0 to 1 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Carbofuran
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| California Public Health Goals | Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health. | 1.7 ppb |
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 40 ppb |
| Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG) | A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 40 ppb |
Testing Summary for Carbofuran
| Are tests routinely required for Carbofuran by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Carbofuran (2004-2009): | 18,619 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Violation Summary for Carbofuran
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Carbofuran since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 0 |
| Monitoring Violations | 1,712 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human immune system toxicant or allergen | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | Jankovic, J, 1996 |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| Limited evidence of wildlife and the environment disruption | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as very toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Tsitologiya i Genetika 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental Research 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1983 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Microbios Letters 1979 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CARBOFURAN | •Very toxic •Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| FDA Food Additive Status | CARBOFURAN | • PEST • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Tolerances for Residues I40 Code of Federal Regulations 180.254 |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | CARBOFURAN | HH-CAT2;WF-CAT2 |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | CARBOFURAN | •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; •Restricted - Regulations that have banned or restricted the use of the agent: EPA banned all granular formulations in 1994. [EXTOXNET]; •Other Poison: Carbamate; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 0.1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction(vapor and aerosol); |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | METHYLCARBAMATE7-BENZOFURANOL, 2,3-DIHYDRO-2,2-DIMETHYL- | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Jankovic, J, 1996 | CARBOFURAN | •Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | CARBOFURAN | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Research 1982 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Microbios Letters 1979 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (other micro-organisms ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1983 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (mouse orl) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: sperm (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Tsitologiya i Genetika 1984 | CARBOFURAN | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) |
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. |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Jankovic, J. A Screening Method for Occupational Reproductive Health Risk. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. 57: 641-649. 1996. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Research 1982 | RTECS®- Environmental Research. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1967- 29,48,1982 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 45,928,2007 |
| RTECS®- Microbios Letters 1979 | RTECS®- Microbios Letters. (Faculty Press, 88 Regent St., Cambridge, UK) V.1- 12,79,1979 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1983 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 116,185,1983 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 147,296,1985 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2000 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 465,123,2000 |
| RTECS®- Tsitologiya i Genetika 1984 | RTECS®- Tsitologiya i Genetika. Cytology and Genetics. For English translation, see CYGEDX. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 18(1),17,1984 |
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