National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Methomyl
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Methomyl is a neurotoxic insecticide used on field, fruit and vegetable crops; EPA classifies methomyl as "Restricted Use Pesticide" because of its high acute oral toxicity to humans.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 4 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 25 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 324,681 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Methomyl:
- Allergies/immunotoxicity
- Neurotoxicity
- Endocrine disruption
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Occupational hazards
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Cancer
- Ecotoxicology
Methomyl Exposure by State
Water utilities in 4 states have reported detecting Methomyl in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Methomyl contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 12 | 243,025 |
| California | 1 | 53,903 |
| Missouri | 11 | 26,953 |
| New York | 1 | 800 |
| Total | 25 | 324,681 |
The Most Polluted Communities
25 water utilities reported detecting Methomyl in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Methomyl level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maysville Maysville, MO | 1,100 | 1 of 4 | 0.53 ppb (0 to 2.13 ppb) |
| 2 | Adrian Adrian, MO | 1,700 | 1 of 4 | 0.53 ppb (0 to 2.1 ppb) |
| 3 | Rich Hill Rich Hill, MO | 1,461 | 1 of 3 | 0.47 ppb (0 to 1.42 ppb) |
| 4 | Mcwa, Genesee West Rochester, NY | 800 | 1 of 2 | 0.45 ppb (0 to 0.9 ppb) |
| 5 | Cass Co Pwsd #7 Freeman, MO | 4,100 | 1 of 4 | 0.42 ppb (0 to 1.68 ppb) |
| 6 | Plattsburg Plattsburg, MO | 2,354 | 1 of 4 | 0.32 ppb (0 to 1.28 ppb) |
| 7 | Cameron Cameron, MO | 9,788 | 1 of 4 | 0.32 ppb (0 to 1.27 ppb) |
| 8 | Hamilton Hamilton, MO | 1,750 | 1 of 4 | 0.28 ppb (0 to 1.13 ppb) |
| 9 | Bethany Bethany, MO | 3,160 | 1 of 5 | 0.24 ppb (0 to 1.2 ppb) |
| 10 | Windsong Farms Newark, DE | 450 | 1 of 2 | 0.2 ppb (0 to 0.4 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Methomyl
| 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. | 200 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. | 200 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. | 300 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. | 300 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. | 900 ppb |
Testing Summary for Methomyl
| Are tests routinely required for Methomyl by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Methomyl (2004-2009): | 11,586 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human immune system toxicant or allergen | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| Limited evidence of endocrine disruption | Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences, 1997 |
| endocrine - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System |
| endocrine - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | Our Stolen Future Endocrine Disruptors |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as very toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental Research 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 |
| One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Rivista di Scienza e Technologia degli Alimenti e di Nutrizione Umana 1976 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | METHOMYL | •Very toxic •Very toxic if swallowed •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System | METHOMYL | •EPA: suspected endocrine disruptor |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | METHOMYL | HH-CAT2;WF-CAT3b |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | METHOMYL | •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; •Other Poison: Carbamate; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 2.5 mg/m3; |
| Our Stolen Future Endocrine Disruptors | METHOMYL | • |
| Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences, 1997 | METHOMYL | •Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | METHOMYL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 | METHOMYL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 | METHOMYL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Research 1987 | METHOMYL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: sperm (mouse orl) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 | METHOMYL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Rivista di Scienza e Technologia degli Alimenti e di Nutrizione Umana 1976 | METHOMYL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) |
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. |
| Illinois EPA Chemicals Associated with Endocrine System | Illinois EPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency). 2000. Preliminary list of chemicals associated with endocrine system effects in animals and humans (*) or in vitro (+). In EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) 2000. Handbook for Non-Cancer Health Effects Valuation, Appendix C. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Our Stolen Future Endocrine Disruptors | Colborn T, D Dumanoski, JP Myers. 2006. Widespread Pollutants with Endocrine-disrupting Effects. Updated from original listing in "Our Stolen Future" (1996). |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences. Lists of Paradigmatic Chemicals. http://www.nihs.go.jp/hse/endocrine-e/paradigm/paradigm.html, Keith, L.H. (ed.). Environmental Endocrine Disruptors. John Wiley & Sons, NY. 1997. http://www.wileyeurope.com/cda/product/0,,0471191450%7Cdesc%7C3037,00.html, World Wildlife Fund. Our Stolen Future. Widespread Pollutants with Endocrine-disrupting Effects. http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/Basics/chemlist.htm. The WWF list is derived from references detailed at http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/Sources/chemsources.htm and was originally published in: Colborn, T., F.S. vom Saal, and A.M. Soto. Developmental Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals In Wildlife and Humans. Environmental Health Perspectives 101(5): 378-384. 1993. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 23,306,1994 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 24,235,1994 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Research 1987 | RTECS®- Environmental Research. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1967- 42,362,1987 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 45,928,2007 |
| RTECS®- Rivista di Scienza e Technologia degli Alimenti e di Nutrizione Umana 1976 | RTECS®- Rivista di Scienza e Technologia degli Alimenti e di Nutrizione Umana. Review of Science and Technology of Food and Human Nutrition. (Bologna, Italy) V.5-6, 1975-76. Discontinued. 6,161,1976 |
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