National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Methoxychlor
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Methoxychlor is an endocrine-disrupting insecticide similar to DDT; banned in the U.S. in 2002, it was historically used on farm animals and in animal feed, lumber, gardens and certain crops. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 16 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 43 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 517,899 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Methoxychlor:
Methoxychlor Exposure by State
Water utilities in 16 states have reported detecting Methoxychlor in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Methoxychlor contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 |
| Illinois | 16 | 161,904 |
| Connecticut | 3 | 39,897 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 34,650 |
| Maryland | 5 | 29,505 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 15,853 |
| Florida | 2 | 9,820 |
| Indiana | 2 | 5,970 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 5,281 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 3,499 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 3,308 |
| California | 1 | 2,772 |
| Iowa | 3 | 2,541 |
| Missouri | 1 | 1,011 |
| New York | 1 | 800 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 88 |
| Total | 43 | 517,899 |
The Most Polluted Communities
43 water utilities reported detecting Methoxychlor in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Methoxychlor level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester Park Elkton, MD | 400 | 1 of 2 | 0.45 ppb (0 to 0.9 ppb) |
| 2 | Mathersville Mathersville, IL | 779 | 1 of 2 | 0.42 ppb (0 to 0.84 ppb) |
| 3 | Rutland Water Supply Whittemore, IA | 145 | 1 of 1 | 0.4 ppb (0.4 ppb) |
| 4 | Town of Hancock Hancock, MD | 1,921 | 1 of 3 | 0.37 ppb (0 to 1.1 ppb) |
| 5 | Lost Hills Utility District Lost Hills, CA | 2,772 | 1 of 2 | 0.22 ppb (0 to 0.44 ppb) |
| 6 | Leon Water Supply Leon, IA | 2,046 | 1 of 1 | 0.2 ppb (0.2 ppb) |
| 7 | Luke / Newpage Luke Mill Luke, MD | 184 | 3 of 11 | 0.13 ppb (0 to 0.5 ppb) |
| 8 | Corwith Water Supply Corwith, IA | 350 | 1 of 1 | 0.1 ppb (0.1 ppb) |
| 9 | Jasper Jasper, MO | 1,011 | 1 of 2 | 0.09 ppb (0 to 0.17 ppb) |
| 10 | Newmarket Water Works Newmarket, NH | 5,000 | 1 of 5 | 0.08 ppb (0 to 0.4 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Methoxychlor
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 30 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. | 40 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. | 40 ppb |
| 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. | 40 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. | 50 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. | 50 ppb |
| 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. | 100 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 Methoxychlor
| Are tests routinely required for Methoxychlor by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Methoxychlor (2004-2009): | 20,503 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.4 per year |
Violation Summary for Methoxychlor
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Methoxychlor since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 0 |
| Monitoring Violations | 1,801 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2003 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 1986 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1996 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Folia Morphologica (Warsaw) 1976 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1981 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1984 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 1986 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ipr) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1994 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (rat lvr) |
| RTECS®- Folia Morphologica (Warsaw) 1976 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) |
| RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1981 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (mouse fbr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1996 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Morphological Transform (hamster emb) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1984 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: sperm (rat orl) |
| RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2003 | ETHANE, 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2,2-BIS(P-METHOXYPHENYL)- | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (mouse scu) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 1986 | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology. (Springer-Verlag, Heidelberger Pl. 3, D-1000 Berlin 33, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.32- 58,152,1986 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 12(Suppl 13),103,1988 |
| 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- 24,181,1994 |
| RTECS®- Folia Morphologica (Warsaw) 1976 | RTECS®- Folia Morphologica (Warsaw). (Panstwowy Zaklad Wydawnictw Lekarskich, ul. Dluga 38-40, 00 238 Warsaw, Poland) V.1- 35,361,1976 |
| RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1981 | RTECS®- JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute. (Washington, DC) V.61-79, 1978-87. For publisher information, see JNCIEQ. 67,1303,1981 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1996 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 356,85,1996 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1984 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 176,187,1984 |
| RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2003 | RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.1- 17,79,2003 |
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