National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Anthracene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Anthracene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) released from fossil fuel combustion, wastewater treatment, waste incineration; it is used to make dyes and plastics and leaches from water distribution system tanks and pipes lined with coal tar.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 3 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 6 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 237,441 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Anthracene:
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Endocrine disruption
- Cancer
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
Anthracene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 3 states have reported detecting Anthracene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Anthracene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 |
| California | 2 | 32,810 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 3,631 |
| Total | 6 | 237,441 |
The Most Polluted Communities
6 water utilities reported detecting Anthracene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Anthracene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lost Hills Utility District Lost Hills, CA | 2,772 | 1 of 2 | 0.1 ppb (0 to 0.2 ppb) |
| 2 | Bellefonte Water Harrison, AR | 445 | 1 of 2 | 0.08 ppb (0 to 0.15 ppb) |
| 3 | City of Ceres Ceres, CA | 30,038 | 1 of 4 | 0.03 ppb (0 to 0.13 ppb) |
| 4 | Strong Waterworks Strong, AR | 992 | 1 of 10 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.08 ppb) |
| 5 | Rector Waterworks Rector, AR | 2,194 | 1 of 13 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.05 ppb) |
| 6 | Artesian Water Company Newark, DE | 201,000 | 1 of 73 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.1 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Anthracene
| 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. | 2000 ppb |
| EPA Human Health Water Quality Criteria | Water quality criteria set by the US EPA provide guidance for states and tribes authorized to establish water quality standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect human health. These are non-enforceable standards based upon exposure by both drinking water and the contribution of water contamination to other consumed foods. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 8300 ppb |
| Drinking Water Equivalent Level | A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 10000 ppb |
Testing Summary for Anthracene
| Are tests routinely required for Anthracene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Anthracene (2004-2009): | 2,591 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans | EU PTBs - PRIO database & Secondary PRIO database |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy) PBTs |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of endocrine disruption | Keith, L, 1997 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Personal Communication from J 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1979 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | Klaassen, C, 1996 |
| 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 |
| 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 moderate doses | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1978 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Water Framework Directive |
| 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) |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | ANTHRACENE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| European Union - Water Framework Directive | ANTHRACENE | •Priority substance in EU water policy |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | ANTHRACENE | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | ANTHRACENE | •Bioaccumulative toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction |
| Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy) PBTs | ANTHRACENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Great Lakes Binational Strategy, Tier 2 concern (moderate), targeting for monitoring/testing |
| OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern | ANTHRACENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, chemical of concern |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | ANTHRACENE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | ANTHRACENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Limited or emerging evidence in open scientific literature |
| EU PTBs - PRIO database & Secondary PRIO database | ANTHRACENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - European Chemicals Bureau PBT working group |
| EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) | ANTHRACENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | ANTHRACENE | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | ANTHRACENE | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Keith, L, 1997 | ANTHRACENE | •Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Klaassen, C, 1996 | ANTHRACENE | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | ANTHRACENE | •Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | ANTHRACENE | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ANTHRACENE | • o |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1978 | ANTHRACENE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (mouse ) |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology 1981 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (rat emb) |
| RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1979 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Host-mediated Assay (mouse ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: (Drosophila melanogaster orl) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Personal Communication from J 1982 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (rat lvr) |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA repair (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Phage Inhibition Capacity (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | ANTHRACENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster kdy) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| European Union - Water Framework Directive | EU (European Union). 2000. Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC ) - integrated river basin management for Europe. List of priority substances. |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | EC (Environment Canada). 1994. Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET). ARET substance list of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals. |
| Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy) PBTs | Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy). 1997. Canada-United States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes. Appendix I - Level 1 and Level 2 substances. |
| OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern | OSPAR (Oslo-Paris). 2002. OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
| EU PTBs - PRIO database & Secondary PRIO database | EU (European Union). 2006. Persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals identified in PRIO database - a tool for risk reduction of chemicals. Secondary PRIO database - a tool for risk reduction of chemicals. Secondary Kemi. Place Published, Kemi-Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate. |
| EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1998. Resource Conservatin and Recovery Act (RCRA) Waste Minimization Program - priority chemicals for elimination or reduction. |
| 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. |
| 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, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Keith, L.H. (ed.). Environmental Endocrine Disruptors. John Wiley & Sons, NY. 1997. http://www.wileyeurope.com/cda/product/0,,0471191450%7Cdesc%7C3037,00.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons, 5th Ed. Pergamon Press, NY. 1996., Timbrell, J.A. Introduction to Toxicology. Taylor and Francis, New York. 1995. (Table 5.1: Types of skin sensitizers). |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1978 | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland). (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 4,333,1978 |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1985 | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of the Institute of Hygienic Sciences. (Kokuritsu Eisei Shikenjo Kagaku, 18-1 Bushitsu Johobu, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan) V.1- (103),64,1985 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 12(Suppl 13),103,1988 |
| RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology 1981 | RTECS®- JAT, Journal of Applied Toxicology. (John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Baffins Lane, Chichester, W. Sussex PO19 1UD, UK) V.1- 1,190,1981 |
| RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1979 | RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute. (Washington, DC) V.61-79, 1978-87. For publisher information, see JNCIEQ. 62,911,1979 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 192,185,1987 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 203,155,1988 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 341,235,1995 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 557,99,2004 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 558,181,2004 |
| RTECS®- Personal Communication from J 1982 | RTECS®- Personal Communication from J.F. Sina, Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, West Point, PA 19486, Oct. 26, 1982 26OCT1982 |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,195,1981 |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,224,1981 |
| RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,626,1981 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.