National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Nitrobenzene
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Nitrobenzene is a synthetic chemical used in the production of aniline, which is used to make dyes, herbicides and drugs.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 2 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 3 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 153,760 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Nitrobenzene:
- Neurotoxicity
- Cancer
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Occupational hazards
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Nitrobenzene Exposure by State
Water utilities in 2 states have reported detecting Nitrobenzene in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Nitrobenzene contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 2 | 152,907 |
| Maine | 1 | 853 |
| Total | 3 | 153,760 |
The Most Polluted Communities
3 water utilities reported detecting Nitrobenzene in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Nitrobenzene level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yermo Water Co Victorville, CA | 1,100 | 1 of 2 | 1 ppb (0 to 2 ppb) |
| 2 | Limestone Water & Sewer District Limestone, ME | 853 | 1 of 5 | 0.12 ppb (0 to 0.58 ppb) |
| 3 | City of Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA | 151,807 | 1 of 48 | 0.03 ppb (0 to 1.25 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Nitrobenzene
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 4 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. | 17 ppb |
Testing Summary for Nitrobenzene
| Are tests routinely required for Nitrobenzene by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Nitrobenzene (2004-2009): | 2,031 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.5 per year |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Possible human carcinogen | NTP Report on Carcinogens, 11th Edition |
| Possible human carcinogen | California EPA Proposition 65 |
| Cancer - strong evidence | Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
| Possible carcinogen | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Cancer - limited evidence | Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Basic Life Sciences 1986 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2003 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 2004 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 2004 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1995 |
| Limited evidence of kidney toxicity | Merck & Co |
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 |
| 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 |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
| reproductive - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans |
| Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | US EPA, 9204 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,183,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 |
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 moderate doses | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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 | NITROBENZENE | •Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect •Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect •Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity •Possible risk of impaired fertility •Toxic •Toxic by inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion •Dangerous for the environment •Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | NITROBENZENE | •Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans (ACGIH classification A3) |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | NITROBENZENE | • o |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | NITROBENZENE | •Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | NITROBENZENE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZENE, NITRO- | •This chemical was deemed a high human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical is suspected to be carcinogenic, a developmental and reproductive toxin, and persistent. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | NITROBENZENE | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | NITROBENZENE | •Prohibited in EU cosmetics: must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | NITROBENZENE | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NITROBENZENE | •Skin Designation (ACGIH) - Danger of cutaneous absorption (ACGIH): Yes; •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male and female reproductive function: Yes; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •Methemoglobinemia: Methemoglobinemia, Primary; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 1 ppm; •IARC Carcinogen - International Agency for Research on Cancer; classifies chemicals as established (1), probable (2a), or possible (2b) human carcinogens: Possible Carcinogen; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 1 ppm; •BEI - Biological Exposure Indices (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene, ACGIH): Total p-nitrophenol in urine = 5 mg/g creatinine at end of shift at end of workweek; methemoglobin in blood = 1.5% of |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | NITROBENZENE | •IARC Group 2B: possible human carcinogen (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) |
| International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards | NITROBENZENE | •Fragrance unsafe for use in cosmetics |
| NTP Report on Carcinogens, 11th Edition | NITROBENZENE | •Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (National Toxicology Program classification) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | NITROBENZENE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| California EPA Proposition 65 | NITROBENZENE | •Carcinogen: California Proposition 65 |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1995 | NITROBENZENE | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, 9204 | NITROBENZENE | •Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Merck & Co | NITROBENZENE | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | NITROBENZENE | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens | NITROBENZENE | •Cancer hazards: recognized |
| Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database | NITROBENZENE | •Chemicals Shown to Cause Mammary Gland Tumors in Animal Studies |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | NITROBENZENE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 2004 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Basic Life Sciences 1986 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,183,1971 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 2004 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | NITROBENZENE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2003 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | NITROBENZENE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human kdy) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (rat kdy) |
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. |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) 2008. ACGIH cancer classification system. www.acgih.org. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| 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. |
| European Union - Banned or Restricted in Cosmetics | EC (European Commission of the European Union). 1999-2006. Enterprise Directorate-General Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. The rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union, Volume 1, "Cosmetics legislation." |
| 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. |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| International Fragrance Association Codes & Standards | IFRA (International Fragrance Association). 2006. Codes and Standards. |
| NTP Report on Carcinogens, 11th Edition | NTP (National Toxicology Program). 2005. Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| California EPA Proposition 65 | California EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). 9/2008. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. |
| 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, Malachowsky, M.J. Health Effects of Toxic Substances. Government Institutes. Rockville, MD 1995., 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. 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 | Merck & Co. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. TABLE 226-1. Common Nephrotoxic Agents http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/tables/226tb1.htm |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | 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 | Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens (July 2004) can be obtained from http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html. |
| Silent Spring's Mammary Carcinogens Reviews Database | Rudel RA, KR Attfield, JN Schifano and JG Brody. Chemicals Causing Mammary Gland Tumors in Animals Signal New Directions for Epidemiology, Chemicals Testing, and Risk Assessment for Breast Cancer Prevention. CANCER Supplement. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):2635-2666. |
| 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 -,411,1986 |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology. (Springer-Verlag, Heidelberger Pl. 3, D-1000 Berlin 33, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.32- 78,49,2004 |
| RTECS®- Basic Life Sciences 1986 | RTECS®- Basic Life Sciences. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 223 Spring St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 39,359,1986 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,183,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,183,1971 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 2006 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 608,28,2006 |
| RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 2004 | RTECS®- Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology. (Springer Verlag, Heidelberger, Pl. 3, D-1000 Berlin 33, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.272- 369(Suppl 1),R127,2004 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 139,25,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 204,187,2004 |
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