National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Chrysene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Chrysene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 6 |
6 |
- |
| Water utilities | 12 |
12 |
- |
| People Served | 1,178,105 |
1,178,105 |
- |
Health Concerns for Chrysene:
- Cancer
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Occupational hazards
- Ecotoxicology
Chrysene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 6 states have reported detecting Chrysene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Chrysene contamination | Water suppliers reporting Chrysene above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| New Jersey | 3 | 834,247 | 3 | 834,247 |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 | 1 | 201,000 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 116,709 | 3 | 116,709 |
| Texas | 2 | 19,413 | 2 | 19,413 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 3,964 | 2 | 3,964 |
| California | 1 | 2,772 | 1 | 2,772 |
| Total | 12 | 1,178,105 | 12 | 1,178,105 |
The Most Polluted Communities
12 water utilities reported detecting Chrysene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Chrysene 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 | 0.24 ppb (0.24 ppb) |
| 2 | Lost Hills Utility District Lost Hills, CA | 2,772 | 1 of 2 | 0.12 ppb (0 to 0.24 ppb) |
| 3 | Butler Water Dept Butler, NJ | 7,630 | 1 of 1 | 0.12 ppb (0.12 ppb) |
| 4 | West Houston Mobile Home Comm Houston, TX | 525 | 1 of 1 | 0.08 ppb (0.08 ppb) |
| 5 | New Jersey American - Elizabethtown Plainfield, NJ | 609,387 | 1 of 1 | 0.06 ppb (0.06 ppb) |
| 6 | City of Wichita Falls Wichita Falls, TX | 18,888 | 1 of 5 | 0.06 ppb (0 to 0.28 ppb) |
| 7 | Hampton Waterworks Hampton, AR | 1,770 | 2 of 5 | 0.05 ppb (0 to 0.17 ppb) |
| 8 | Rector Waterworks Rector, AR | 2,194 | 2 of 13 | 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.09 ppb) |
| 9 | Artesian Water Company Newark, DE | 201,000 | 1 of 73 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.53 ppb) |
| 10 | Town of Cumberland Cumberland, RI | 21,900 | 1 of 19 | < 0.01 ppb (0 to 0.1 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Chrysene
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | <0.01 ppb |
Testing Summary for Chrysene
| Are tests routinely required for Chrysene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Chrysene (2004-2009): | 2,606 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Possible human carcinogen | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Possible human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| Possible human carcinogen | California EPA Proposition 65 |
| Cancer - strong evidence | Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | NIOSH Occupational Carcinogens |
| Possible carcinogen | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Possible mutagen | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Mutagen - limited evidence | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1991 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1992 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1992 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1980 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer 1977 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2005 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2007 |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
| Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| 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 | EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of occupational hazards | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| 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) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CHRYSENE | •May cause cancer •May cause cancer •Limited evidence of mutagenic effect •Possible risk of irreversible effects •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | CHRYSENE | •Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans (ACGIH classification A3) |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | CHRYSENE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | CHRYSENE | •Prohibited in EU cosmetics: must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | CHRYSENE | •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 0.2 mg/m3; |
| Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants | CHRYSENE | Obligates Parties to reduce emissions under Aahrus Protocol for Persistent Organic Pollutants |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | CHRYSENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction |
| Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy) PBTs | CHRYSENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Great Lakes Binational Strategy, Tier 2 concern (moderate), targeting for monitoring/testing |
| OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern | CHRYSENE | •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 | CHRYSENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - targeted for waste reporting under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| EPA PBTs - Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) | CHRYSENE | •Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | CHRYSENE | •Group B2: Probable human carcinogen - sufficient data in animals (EPA classification) |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | CHRYSENE | •IARC Group 2B: possible human carcinogen (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) |
| NIOSH Occupational Carcinogens | CHRYSENE | •Potential occupational carcinogen according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) |
| California EPA Proposition 65 | CHRYSENE | •Carcinogen: California Proposition 65 |
| Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens | CHRYSENE | •Cancer hazards: recognized |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | CHRYSENE | •This chemical was deemed a high human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical is suspected to be carcinogenic, genotoxic, persistent, and toxic to aquatic organisms. |
| RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1982 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (hamster emb) |
| RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1984 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (mouse skn) |
| RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1982 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1991 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (mouse skn) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1992 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer 1977 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster emb) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2005 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells ( human oth) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1992 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human fbr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (mouse emb) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2007 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster ipr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1980 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster kdy) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | CHRYSENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test ( human lvr) |
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. |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) 2008. ACGIH cancer classification system. www.acgih.org. |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | EC (European Commission of the European Union). 1999-2006. Enterprise Directorate-General Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. The rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union, Volume 1, "Cosmetics legislation." |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants | Aarhus LRTAP. 1998. Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Geneva Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, United Nations Environment Program. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| NIOSH Occupational Carcinogens | NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). 2006. NIOSH Carcinogens List (Potential occupational carcinogens). http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npotocca.html. |
| California EPA Proposition 65 | California EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). 9/2008. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens (July 2004) can be obtained from http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1982 | RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London). (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 3,1051,1982 |
| RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London) 1984 | RTECS®- Carcinogenesis (London). (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 5,231,1984 |
| RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science 1982 | RTECS®- Developments in Toxicology and Environtal Science. (Elsevier Science, New York, NY) V.1-15, 1977-87. Discontinued 10,277,1982 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1991 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 17,163,1991 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1992 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 19,259,1992 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer 1977 | RTECS®- International Journal of Cancer. (International Union Against Cancer, 3 rue du Conseil- General, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland) V.1- 19,642,1977 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2005 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 20,217,2005 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 130,127,1984 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1984 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 131,101,1984 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1985 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 156,61,1985 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1987 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 192,239,1987 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1992 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 279,153,1992 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 48,249,1977 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2002 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 515,85,2002 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2004 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 547,109,2004 |
| 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 2005 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 586,1,2005 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 586,87,2005 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 588,7,2005 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2007 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 626,88,2007 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1979 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 66,65,1979 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 7,143,1980 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 198,315,2004 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.