National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Aroclor 1242
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Aroclor 1242 is a member of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) group of industrial chemicals used as dielectrics, coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment; PCBs contaminate water by leaching from landfills or other waste deposits. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 3 |
3 |
- |
| Water utilities | 3 |
3 |
- |
| People Served | 219,175 |
219,175 |
- |
Health Concerns for Aroclor 1242:
Aroclor 1242 Exposure by State
Water utilities in 3 states have reported detecting Aroclor 1242 in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Aroclor 1242 contamination | Water suppliers reporting Aroclor 1242 above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 | 1 | 201,000 |
| New York | 1 | 12,000 | 1 | 12,000 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6,175 | 1 | 6,175 |
| Total | 3 | 219,175 | 3 | 219,175 |
The Most Polluted Communities
3 water utilities reported detecting Aroclor 1242 in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Aroclor 1242 level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk Water Department MA | 6,175 | 1 of 2 | 0.08 ppb (0 to 0.15 ppb) |
| 2 | Artesian Water Company Newark, DE | 201,000 | 1 of 83 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.17 ppb) |
| 3 | Waterford Water Works Waterford, NY | 12,000 | 1 of 50 | < 0.01 ppb (< .01 to 0.00538 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Aroclor 1242
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 0 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. | 0.5 ppb |
Testing Summary for Aroclor 1242
| Are tests routinely required for Aroclor 1242 by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Aroclor 1242 (2004-2009): | 6,591 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.3 per year |
Violation Summary for Aroclor 1242
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Aroclor 1242 since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 0 |
| Monitoring Violations | 76 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human disruptor - strong evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1979 |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | PCB AROCLOR 1242 | HH-CAT1; |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (AROCLOR 1242) | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1979 | POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (AROCLOR 1242) | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (mouse oth) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1979 | RTECS®- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 3,10,1979 |
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