National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Monochloroacetic acid
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Monochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 37 |
18 |
18 |
| Water utilities | 7,552 |
382 |
382 |
| People Served | 95,093,820 |
2,249,147 |
2,249,147 |
Health Concerns for Monochloroacetic acid:
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Occupational hazards
- Cancer
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Miscellaneous
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Monochloroacetic acid Exposure by State
Water utilities in 37 states have reported detecting Monochloroacetic acid in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Monochloroacetic acid contamination | Water suppliers reporting Monochloroacetic acid above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Texas | 1,869 | 17,308,587 | 284 | 1,474,669 |
| North Carolina | 636 | 6,241,980 | 16 | 381,078 |
| New York | 833 | 13,598,928 | 39 | 153,446 |
| Florida | 266 | 7,874,872 | 3 | 75,725 |
| Wisconsin | 204 | 1,327,083 | 6 | 69,563 |
| Minnesota | 565 | 3,782,012 | 14 | 58,813 |
| Delaware | 32 | 595,472 | 1 | 12,000 |
| Arizona | 53 | 1,905,060 | 1 | 6,324 |
| New Jersey | 211 | 6,710,944 | 1 | 4,800 |
| Illinois | 430 | 4,249,163 | 2 | 2,903 |
| California | 191 | 4,654,834 | 1 | 2,842 |
| Nebraska | 101 | 1,026,369 | 4 | 2,488 |
| Arkansas | 482 | 2,600,217 | 2 | 2,285 |
| Ohio | 340 | 7,209,024 | 2 | 1,050 |
| Alaska | 80 | 103,976 | 3 | 828 |
| Virginia | 234 | 2,135,773 | 1 | 189 |
| New Mexico | 76 | 858,000 | 1 | 96 |
| Vermont | 73 | 201,254 | 1 | 48 |
| Maryland | 119 | 4,602,698 | 0 | 0 |
| Missouri | 409 | 3,323,229 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington | 44 | 1,412,897 | 0 | 0 |
| Iowa | 185 | 1,287,482 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah | 13 | 621,619 | 0 | 0 |
| Maine | 50 | 378,521 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 33 | 280,999 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevada | 3 | 272,035 | 0 | 0 |
| Idaho | 1 | 185,787 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 68,531 | 0 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 68,446 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 1 | 61,799 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 46,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 42,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado | 1 | 29,500 | 0 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 3 | 16,241 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon | 1 | 9,108 | 0 | 0 |
| Wyoming | 2 | 2,025 | 0 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 1 | 1,355 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 7,552 | 95,093,820 | 382 | 2,249,147 |
The Most Polluted Communities
7,552 water utilities reported detecting Monochloroacetic acid in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Monochloroacetic acid level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallecitos Mdwca La Madera, NM | 96 | 1 of 1 | 105.68 ppb (105.68 ppb) |
| 2 | City of Edcouch Edcouch, TX | 2,874 | 23 of 28 | 72.66 ppb (0 to 171.4 ppb) |
| 3 | City of LA Villa La Villa, TX | 35 | 22 of 22 | 62.85 ppb (10.3 to 124.4 ppb) |
| 4 | Laurel Canyon Ranch Water System TX | 36 | 1 of 2 | 61.95 ppb (0 to 123.9 ppb) |
| 5 | City of Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, TX | 2,238 | 24 of 29 | 60.31 ppb (0 to 172.9 ppb) |
| 6 | Lakeshore Sites Water Co Haskell, TX | 148 | 9 of 15 | 59.2 ppb (0 to 178.7 ppb) |
| 7 | Lago Vista Water System Luling, TX | 42 | 2 of 3 | 53.4 ppb (0 to 80.1 ppb) |
| 8 | Mount Royal S/D Welaka, FL | 25 | 3 of 3 | 50.88 ppb (0.57 to 81.98 ppb) |
| 9 | Mount Morris Town Pws Mount Morris, NY | 234 | 1 of 2 | 49.05 ppb (0 to 98.1 ppb) |
| 10 | Zapata County Wcid Hwy 16 East Zapata, TX | 35 | 20 of 25 | 47.83 ppb (0 to 166.1 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Monochloroacetic acid
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 60 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. | 70 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. | 70 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. | 200 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. | 200 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. | 350 ppb |
Testing Summary for Monochloroacetic acid
| Are tests routinely required for Monochloroacetic acid by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Monochloroacetic acid (2004-2009): | 22,823 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.9 per year |
Violation Summary for Monochloroacetic acid
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Monochloroacetic acid since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 1 |
| Monitoring Violations | 6 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| Classified as toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| 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 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1982 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1987 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2001 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2002 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human skin irritant - moderate evidence | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Not 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 persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| 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 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Toxic •Toxic by inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion •Corrosive •Causes burns •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | MONOCHLOROACETIC ACID--PROHIBITED | • The substance was formerly approved as a food additive but is now banned; there may be some toxicology data available. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | ACETIC ACID, CHLORO- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •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: 1: must be preheated; |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | CHLOROACETIC ACID | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1987 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2001 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: (mouse oth) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2002 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1987 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1982 | CHLOROACETIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (mouse lym) |
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. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| 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. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1987 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 10(Suppl 10),1,1987 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2001 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 38,69,2001 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2002 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 40,134,2002 |
| RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis 1987 | RTECS®- Environmental Mutagenesis. (New York, NY) V.1-9, 1979-87. For publisher information, see EMMUEG. 9,143,1987 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1982 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 97,49,1982 |
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