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National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is an industrial pollutant discharged from chemical factories. [read more]

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HEX or HCCPD) Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HEX or HCCPD) is an industrial high production volume chemical with annual U.S. production and imports of between 8 and 15 million pounds (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 1998b, 2009b). It is used as an intermediate product in the synthesis of numerous chlorinated pesticides including endosulfan, pentac; and before their registrations were canceled, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, kepone, isodrin and mirex. HEX is also used in the manufacture of flame retardants, resins, pharmaceuticals and dyes (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 1999a). Water contamination with HEX occurs by industrial emissions into water and air and onto land, and from the application of pesticides where it may remain as an impurity (USEPA 2009b). Short-term exposure to drinking water contaminated with levels of HEX above the maximum contamination level (MCL) of 50 parts per billion (ppb or 0.05 mg/L) may cause gastrointestinal distress and damage to liver, kidneys and heart. Longer-term exposure can lead to damage of the stomach, kidney, liver, brain, adrenal glands, ovaries and stomach. (ATSDR 1999a; USEPA 2009b).

	Detected	Found above health guidelines	Found above legal limit
States	24	1	1
Water utilities	137	1	1
People Served	10,595,099	5,248	5,248

Health Concerns for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene:

• Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
• Occupational hazards
• Persistence and bioaccumulation
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity
• Cancer
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
• Ecotoxicology
• Miscellaneous

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene Exposure by State

Water utilities in 24 states have reported detecting Hexachlorocyclopentadiene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.

State	Water Suppliers with Hexachlorocyclopentadiene contamination		Water suppliers reporting Hexachlorocyclopentadiene above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
New York	4	16,998	1	5,248
Arizona	3	2,055,000	0	0
Massachusetts	3	2,045,500	0	0
Maryland	4	1,860,384	0	0
Nevada	1	1,181,263	0	0
Virginia	1	755,617	0	0
Oregon	2	539,350	0	0
Florida	14	519,708	0	0
Kentucky	42	511,813	0	0
North Carolina	14	304,970	0	0
Delaware	2	201,320	0	0
Idaho	1	185,787	0	0
California	1	150,253	0	0
Arkansas	12	104,358	0	0
Montana	3	48,225	0	0
New Hampshire	5	41,100	0	0
Hawaii	4	28,780	0	0
Indiana	5	18,023	0	0
Maine	4	10,405	0	0
Texas	4	7,812	0	0
Connecticut	3	3,726	0	0
Washington	1	2,970	0	0
Illinois	1	1,313	0	0
Pennsylvania	3	424	0	0
Total	137	10,595,099	1	5,248

The Most Polluted Communities

137 water utilities reported detecting Hexachlorocyclopentadiene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies

Ranked by highest average Hexachlorocyclopentadiene level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Penn Yan Village Penn Yan, NY	5,248	1 of 3	33.33 ppb (0 to 100 ppb)
2	Doe Valley Utilities Inc Brandenburg, KY	2,343	1 of 4	2.5 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
3	Keenhold Assoc Water Sys PA	40	1 of 1	2 ppb (2 ppb)
4	Georgetown Municipal Water Service Georgetown, KY	37,043	1 of 5	2 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
5	Beattyville Water Works Beattyville, KY	7,352	1 of 6	1.67 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
6	Salyersville Municipal Water Salyersville, KY	3,250	2 of 12	1.67 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
7	Burnside Water Company Burnside, KY	2,538	2 of 14	1.43 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
8	Richmond Utilities Richmond, KY	39,002	1 of 7	1.43 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
9	Columbia Utilities Commission Columbia, KY	5,402	2 of 15	1.33 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)
10	Madisonville Light & Water Madisonville, KY	31,225	1 of 8	1.25 ppb (0 to 10 ppb)

Health Based Limits for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

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.	40 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.	50 ppb
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.	50 ppb
California Public Health Goals	Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health.	50 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.	200 ppb

Testing Summary for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Are tests routinely required for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene by federal law?	Yes
Water suppliers reporting tests for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (2004-2009):	20,213 of 47,576
Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009):	0.4 per year

Violation Summary for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Hexachlorocyclopentadiene since 2004

Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations	0
Monitoring Violations	1,814
Reporting Violations	0

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Type of concern:	Reference:
Known human respiratory toxicant	EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses	RTECS®- Velsicol Chemical Corp 1976
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses	RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986
Classified as toxic or harmful	European Union - Classification & Labelling
Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity	National Library of Medicine HazMap
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004
Limited evidence of kidney toxicity	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity	US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center
One or more animal studies show toxic via inhalation effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)	National Library of Medicine HazMap
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)	EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs

Occupational hazards

Type of concern:	Reference:
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses	European Union - Classification & Labelling
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses	RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses	European Union - Classification & Labelling

Persistence and bioaccumulation

Type of concern:	Reference:
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife	Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET)
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

Type of concern:	Reference:
Limited evidence of developmental toxicity	US EPA, 9204
Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity	US EPA, 9204

Cancer

Type of concern:	Reference:
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results	RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humans	EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

Type of concern:	Reference:
Human skin irritant - moderate evidence	National Library of Medicine HazMap
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses	RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1955
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses	RTECS®- Velsicol Chemical Corp 1976
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses	RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 7036
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses	RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1955

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

Miscellaneous

Type of concern:	Reference:
Occupational hazards related to handling	European Union - Classification & Labelling

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications

government/industry list/academic study	appears on list as	classification(s)
European Union - Classification & Labelling	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Very toxic •Very toxic by inhalation •Toxic •Toxic in contact with skin •Harmful •Harmful if swallowed •Corrosive •Causes burns •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms
EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List	1,3-CYCLOPENTADIENE, 1,2,3,4,5,5-HEXACHLORO-	•This chemical was flagged for further attention by CEPA due to suspected aquatic toxicity and persistence.
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE (HCCPD)	•Group E: Evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans (EPA classification)
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE (HCCPD)	•Not likely to be carcinogenic in humans (EPA classification)
EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act
National Library of Medicine HazMap	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •Toxic Pneumonitis: Yes; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •TIH - Toxic inhalation hazard (North American Emergency Response Guide): Yes; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 0.01 ppm; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 0: will not burn; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 0.15 ppm;
Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET)	1,2,3,4,5,5-HEXACHLORO-1,3-CYCLOPENTADIENE	•Bioaccumulative toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction
EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs	1,2,3,4,5,5-HEXACHLORO-1,3-CYCLOPENTADIENE	•Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected
US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected
US EPA, 9204	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Developmental toxicity hazards: suspected
US EPA, 9204	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	•Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected
RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA)
RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1955	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• skin - Primary skin irritant (monkey )
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster oth)
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 7036	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Velsicol Chemical Corp 1976	HEXACHLOROCYCLOPENTADIENE	• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )

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.
EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List	EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
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.
EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants	EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2005. Office of Air. The 112(b)1 Hazardous Air Pollutants List (as modified). Last modified: 12 Dec 2005.
National Library of Medicine HazMap	NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
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.
EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs	EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule.
Scorecard.org Toxicity Information	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html, California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation.
Scorecard.org Toxicity Information	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation.
Scorecard.org Toxicity Information	US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html
Scorecard.org Toxicity Information	US EPA. Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals Listed in the Emergency Planning Community and Community Right-to-Know Act (Also Known as SARA Title 3), Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (for Microcomputers). (Report Number EPADFDK92040). 1991. Data file distributed in 2 diskettes by Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. NOTE: Datasource no longer being maintained by EPA; not currently available online.
Scorecard.org Toxicity Information	US EPA. Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals Listed in the Emergency Planning Community and Community Right-to-Know Act (Also Known as SARA Title 3), Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (for Microcomputers). (Report Number EPADFDK92040). 1991. Data file distributed in 2 diskettes by Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. NOTE: Datasource no longer being maintained by EPA; not currently available online.
RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007	RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007
RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986	RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,149,1986
RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1955	RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health. (Chicago, IL) V.11-21, 1955-60. For publisher information, see AEHLAU. 11,459,1955
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006	RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 608,28,2006
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 7036	RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0537036
RTECS®- Velsicol Chemical Corp 1976	RTECS®- Velsicol Chemical Corp., Product Bulletin. (341 E. Ohio St., Chicago, IL 60611) #50101-2,1976

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