National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Lithium
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Lithium is a pollutant from mining and industrial manufacturing of metal alloys, ceramics, and batteries; it occurs naturally in soil and rock. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 3 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 9 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 17,431,874 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Lithium:
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Cancer
- Ecotoxicology
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Lithium Exposure by State
Water utilities in 3 states have reported detecting Lithium in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Lithium contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 7 | 17,380,400 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 44,126 |
| New York | 1 | 7,348 |
| Total | 9 | 17,431,874 |
The Most Polluted Communities
9 water utilities reported detecting Lithium in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Lithium level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Louis Park St Louis Park, MN | 44,126 | 1 of 1 | 50 ppb (50 ppb) |
| 2 | Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 17,000,000 | 5 of 5 | 25.98 ppb (10.33 to 49 ppb) |
| 3 | City of Napa Napa, CA | 70,000 | 3 of 6 | 13.88 ppb (0 to 40 ppb) |
| 4 | Cabana Holiday Ws Salinas, CA | 400 | 1 of 1 | 6.1 ppb (6.1 ppb) |
| 5 | City of Santa Clara Santa Clara, CA | 102,500 | 8 of 9 | 5.58 ppb (0 to 7.93 ppb) |
| 6 | Glendale-City, Water Dept. Glendale, CA | 200,000 | 259 of 261 | 3.37 ppb (0 to 7.6 ppb) |
| 7 | LA Puente Valley Cwd La Puente, CA | 7,500 | 2 of 2 | 2.02 ppb (2 to 2.03 ppb) |
| 8 | Horseheads Village Horseheads, NY | 7,348 | 1 of 1 | 1.5 ppb (1.5 ppb) |
| 9 | Santa Clara Valley Water District San Jose, CA | 0 | 2 of 21 | 0.52 ppb (0 to 6 ppb) |
Testing Summary for Lithium
| Are tests routinely required for Lithium by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Lithium (2004-2009): | 11 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 4.7 per year |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Limited evidence of kidney toxicity | Klaassen, C, 1996 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- United States Patent Document 1582 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Lancet 1969 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| 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 |
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) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | LITHIUM | •Highly flammable •Reacts violently with water, liberating extremely flammable gases •Corrosive •Causes burns |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | LITHIUM | •This chemical was flagged for further attention by CEPA due to suspected aquatic toxicity and persistence. |
| Klaassen, C, 1996 | LITHIUM | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- Lancet 1969 | LITHIUM | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human unr) |
| RTECS®- Lancet 1969 | LITHIUM | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human unr) |
| RTECS®- United States Patent Document 1582 | LITHIUM | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
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. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons, 5th Ed. Pergamon Press, NY. 1996. |
| RTECS®- Lancet 1969 | RTECS®- Lancet. (7 Adam St., London WC2N 6AD, UK) V.1- 1823- 2,435,1969 |
| RTECS®- Lancet 1969 | RTECS®- Lancet. (7 Adam St., London WC2N 6AD, UK) V.1- 2,435,1969 |
| RTECS®- United States Patent Document 1582 | RTECS®- United States Patent Document. (U.S. Patent Office, Box 9, Washington, DC 20231) #6441582 |
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