National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Bromochloromethane
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Bromochloromethane is a tap water disinfection byproduct; it is also used as an intermediate in chemical manufacturing and a fire extinguishing agent.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 21 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 121 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 3,372,085 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Bromochloromethane:
- Cancer
- Occupational hazards
- Ecotoxicology
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Bromochloromethane Exposure by State
Water utilities in 21 states have reported detecting Bromochloromethane in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Bromochloromethane contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 10 | 960,977 |
| Alabama | 8 | 579,498 |
| New York | 22 | 514,042 |
| New Jersey | 7 | 431,532 |
| Massachusetts | 10 | 327,369 |
| Texas | 8 | 209,586 |
| Ohio | 9 | 85,870 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 72,357 |
| Michigan | 5 | 49,842 |
| Alaska | 3 | 43,744 |
| North Carolina | 11 | 43,555 |
| Maine | 1 | 21,500 |
| Minnesota | 6 | 14,549 |
| Delaware | 3 | 4,670 |
| Illinois | 1 | 4,050 |
| Missouri | 1 | 2,779 |
| Iowa | 3 | 1,973 |
| Arkansas | 4 | 1,832 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1,200 |
| Vermont | 1 | 1,100 |
| Virginia | 1 | 60 |
| Total | 121 | 3,372,085 |
The Most Polluted Communities
121 water utilities reported detecting Bromochloromethane in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Bromochloromethane level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NJ American Water Company Shorthills, NJ | 217,230 | 1 of 1 | 7.6 ppb (7.6 ppb) |
| 2 | Pontoon Beach Pwd Granite City, IL | 4,050 | 1 of 1 | 6 ppb (6 ppb) |
| 3 | Village of Woodsfield Woodsfield, OH | 2,990 | 1 of 2 | 6 ppb (0 to 12 ppb) |
| 4 | Derby Center Water System Derby, VT | 1,100 | 1 of 2 | 6 ppb (0 to 12 ppb) |
| 5 | Pleasant Acres Mhp Newark, OH | 300 | 1 of 1 | 5.33 ppb (5.33 ppb) |
| 6 | City of Wilmington Wilmington, OH | 11,921 | 1 of 1 | 4.5 ppb (4.5 ppb) |
| 7 | Metropolitan Water Board Clay, NY | 0 | 1 of 2 | 4.2 ppb (0 to 8.4 ppb) |
| 8 | Mountain View Estates Stormville Rd., NY | 140 | 1 of 1 | 4.1 ppb (4.1 ppb) |
| 9 | Andover Water Dept Andover, MA | 31,344 | 1 of 2 | 3.1 ppb (0 to 6.2 ppb) |
| 10 | Wilmington Water Dept Wilmington, MA | 21,779 | 1 of 2 | 2.65 ppb (0 to 5.3 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Bromochloromethane
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 50 ppb |
| Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 90 ppb |
| 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. | 90 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 1000 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 50000 ppb |
Testing Summary for Bromochloromethane
| Are tests routinely required for Bromochloromethane by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Bromochloromethane (2004-2009): | 20,577 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- HEW Publication (FDA 1978 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,50,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | 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 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- HEW Publication (FDA 1978 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,50,1971 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 | METHANE, BROMOCHLORO- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster lng) |
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. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- HEW Publication (FDA 1978 | RTECS®- HEW Publication (FDA. United States). (Washington, DC) ?-1979(?). For publisher information, see HPFSDS. FDA-78-1046,1978 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,50,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,50,1971 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
| RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 1987 | RTECS®- Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry. (Gordon & Breach Science Pub. Inc., 1 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016) V.3(3/4)- 13,205,1987 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.