National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Aroclor 1260
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Aroclor 1260 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 | 2 |
2 |
- |
| Water utilities | 2 |
2 |
- |
| People Served | 252,000 |
252,000 |
- |
Health Concerns for Aroclor 1260:
Aroclor 1260 Exposure by State
Water utilities in 2 states have reported detecting Aroclor 1260 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 1260 contamination | Water suppliers reporting Aroclor 1260 above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 | 1 | 201,000 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 51,000 | 1 | 51,000 |
| Total | 2 | 252,000 | 2 | 252,000 |
The Most Polluted Communities
2 water utilities reported detecting Aroclor 1260 in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Aroclor 1260 level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol County Water Authority Warren, RI | 51,000 | 1 of 4 | 0.05 ppb (0 to 0.19 ppb) |
| 2 | Artesian Water Company Newark, DE | 201,000 | 1 of 83 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.17 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Aroclor 1260
| 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 1260
| Are tests routinely required for Aroclor 1260 by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Aroclor 1260 (2004-2009): | 6,569 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.3 per year |
Violation Summary for Aroclor 1260
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Aroclor 1260 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 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Abstracts of Papers, Society of Toxicology 1980 |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | PCB AROCLOR 1260 (CLOPHEN A60) | HH-CAT1; |
| RTECS®- Abstracts of Papers, Society of Toxicology 1980 | POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (AROCLOR 1260) | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat orl) |
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®- Abstracts of Papers, Society of Toxicology 1980 | RTECS®- Abstracts of Papers, Society of Toxicology. Annual Meetings. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) 19,A16,1980 |
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