National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Dichlorodifluoromethane
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) is a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant; it was banned under the Montreal Protocol as of 2000 because of its ozone-depleting properties.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 18 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 151 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 6,918,827 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Dichlorodifluoromethane:
- Occupational hazards
- Ecotoxicology
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Dichlorodifluoromethane Exposure by State
Water utilities in 18 states have reported detecting Dichlorodifluoromethane in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Dichlorodifluoromethane contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 42 | 4,117,851 |
| New York | 26 | 1,077,616 |
| Alabama | 1 | 585,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 290,949 |
| Wisconsin | 11 | 286,368 |
| Nebraska | 3 | 266,036 |
| Massachusetts | 10 | 128,330 |
| Minnesota | 6 | 102,484 |
| Delaware | 2 | 38,430 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 9,521 |
| Washington | 5 | 7,498 |
| Virginia | 2 | 2,480 |
| New Hampshire | 13 | 2,413 |
| Alaska | 7 | 2,353 |
| Maine | 8 | 804 |
| Missouri | 1 | 611 |
| Vermont | 1 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 33 |
| Total | 151 | 6,918,827 |
The Most Polluted Communities
151 water utilities reported detecting Dichlorodifluoromethane in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Dichlorodifluoromethane level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Joaquin County - Wilkinson Manor Stockton, CA | 670 | 4 of 6 | 18.43 ppb (0 to 42.4 ppb) |
| 2 | Tokay Park Water Co Sacramento, CA | 525 | 1 of 1 | 12 ppb (12 ppb) |
| 3 | Ykhc Hospital - Bethel Bethel, AK | 510 | 2 of 2 | 11.55 ppb (8.1 to 15 ppb) |
| 4 | Heatherstone West S/D Raleigh, NC | 245 | 1 of 1 | 6.6 ppb (6.6 ppb) |
| 5 | Island Nursing Home Deer Isle, ME | 240 | 1 of 1 | 4.1 ppb (4.1 ppb) |
| 6 | Barnstable Water Company (Hyannis) Barnstable, MA | 34,000 | 4 of 8 | 3.76 ppb (0 to 11.5 ppb) |
| 7 | M & M Mobile Park Oak Harbor, WA | 51 | 5 of 5 | 3.18 ppb (1.4 to 4.5 ppb) |
| 8 | Meridian Heights Water District Olympia, WA | 130 | 3 of 3 | 3.1 ppb (1.9 to 3.9 ppb) |
| 9 | Scanlon Cloquet, MN | 844 | 1 of 1 | 2.8 ppb (2.8 ppb) |
| 10 | Town of Carver Carver, MA | 414 | 1 of 2 | 2.4 ppb (0 to 4.8 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Dichlorodifluoromethane
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 1000 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. | 1000 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. | 5000 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. | 40000 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. | 40000 ppb |
Testing Summary for Dichlorodifluoromethane
| Are tests routinely required for Dichlorodifluoromethane by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Dichlorodifluoromethane (2004-2009): | 20,877 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,78,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| 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 |
| Classified as a low human health priority | 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, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | •This chemical was deemed a low human health priority and was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,78,1971 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | METHANE, DICHLORODIFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
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®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,78,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,78,1971 |
| 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 |
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