National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Phosphorus
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Phosphorus is a component of fertilizer and manure, and a common pollutant in municipal wastewater discharges.
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 9 |
9 |
- |
| Water utilities | 274 |
274 |
- |
| People Served | 2,851,644 |
2,851,644 |
- |
Health Concerns for Phosphorus:
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Endocrine disruption
- Neurotoxicity
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Occupational hazards
- Biochemical or cellular level changes
- Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
- Ecotoxicology
- Cancer
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Miscellaneous
Phosphorus Exposure by State
Water utilities in 9 states have reported detecting Phosphorus in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Phosphorus contamination | Water suppliers reporting Phosphorus above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Illinois | 246 | 1,534,708 | 246 | 1,534,708 |
| Ohio | 13 | 1,031,910 | 13 | 1,031,910 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 151,724 | 5 | 151,724 |
| New York | 5 | 131,433 | 5 | 131,433 |
| Idaho | 1 | 997 | 1 | 997 |
| Iowa | 1 | 500 | 1 | 500 |
| Alaska | 1 | 199 | 1 | 199 |
| Nevada | 1 | 91 | 1 | 91 |
| Montana | 1 | 82 | 1 | 82 |
| Total | 274 | 2,851,644 | 274 | 2,851,644 |
The Most Polluted Communities
274 water utilities reported detecting Phosphorus in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Phosphorus level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason City Mason City, IL | 2,558 | 1 of 1 | 3200 ppb (3200 ppb) |
| 2 | Maynard Water Supply Maynard, IA | 500 | 1 of 2 | 2550 ppb (0 to 5100 ppb) |
| 3 | Piper City Piper City, IL | 875 | 1 of 1 | 2090 ppb (2090 ppb) |
| 4 | Boyd Community New Hartford, NY | 126 | 4 of 4 | 1129.17 ppb (370 to 1866.67 ppb) |
| 5 | Ada Ada, MN | 1,657 | 1 of 1 | 1083.33 ppb (1083.33 ppb) |
| 6 | Alhambra Alhambra, IL | 800 | 1 of 1 | 888 ppb (888 ppb) |
| 7 | Oreana Oreana, IL | 892 | 1 of 1 | 869 ppb (869 ppb) |
| 8 | City of Jackson Jackson, OH | 9,590 | 1 of 1 | 765 ppb (765 ppb) |
| 9 | Mount Pulaski Mt. Pulaski, IL | 1,800 | 1 of 1 | 721 ppb (721 ppb) |
| 10 | Farmersville Farmersville, IL | 816 | 1 of 1 | 721 ppb (721 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Phosphorus
| 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. | 0.1 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. | 0.5 ppb |
Testing Summary for Phosphorus
| Are tests routinely required for Phosphorus by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Phosphorus (2004-2009): | 345 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.3 per year |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at very low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1993 |
| One or more animal studies show blood effects at very low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 |
| One or more animal studies show metabolic effects at very low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 |
| One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at very low doses | RTECS®- American Heart Journal 1972 |
| One or more animal studies show respiratory effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine 1949 |
| One or more animal studies show gastrointestinal effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine 1949 |
| One or more animal studies show respiratory effects at very low doses | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1993 |
| One or more animal studies show liver effects at low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 |
| One or more animal studies show gastrointestinal effects at low doses | RTECS®- American Journal of the Medical Sciences 1944 |
| One or more animal studies show metabolic effects at low doses | RTECS®- American Journal of the Medical Sciences 1944 |
| One or more animal studies show gastrointestinal effects at low doses | RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1945 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- "Pesticide Index," Frear, E 1969 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 |
| One or more animal studies show liver effects at low doses | RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 |
| One or more animal studies show blood effects at low doses | RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- "Pesticide Index," Frear, E 1969 |
| One or more animal studies show musculoskeletal effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Anatomical Record 1973 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Endocrine disruption
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more studies show endocrine system disruption at very low doses | RTECS®- Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1911 |
Neurotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect effects at very low doses | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect effects at very low doses | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1911 |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect effects at low doses | RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1945 |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Zdravookhranenie Kazakhstana 1976 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Single case study detailing occupational hazards | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at very low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine 1949 |
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 |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Miscellaneous
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | RED PHOSPHORUS | •Highly flammable •Highly flammable •Explosive when mixed with oxidizing substances •Harmful to aquatic organisms |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | PHOSPHORUS | •Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | PHOSPHORUS | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | WHITE PHOSPHORUS | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | PHOSPHORUS | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | PHOSPHORUS (YELLOW) | •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •Toxic Pneumonitis: Yes; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •Nephrotoxin: Yes; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 0.1 mg/m3; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 0.1 mg/m3; •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: 3: may ignite at ambient temperature; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 5 mg/m3; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 0.1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction; |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | PHOSPHORUS (YELLOW OR WHITE) | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| DiPalma, J, 1107 | PHOSPHORUS (YELLOW OR WHITE) | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | PHOSPHORUS (YELLOW OR WHITE) | •Musculoskeletal toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | PHOSPHORUS (YELLOW OR WHITE) | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | PHOSPHORUS | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | PHOSPHORUS | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | PHOSPHORUS | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Pesticide Index," Frear, E 1969 | PHOSPHORUS | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (pig LDLo) |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 | PHOSPHORUS | • liver - Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), diffuse (rat TDLo) • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • liver - Fatty liver degeneration (rat TDLo) • liver - Hepatitis, fibrous (cirrhosis, post-necrotic scarring) (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Multiple enzyme effects (rat TDLo) • blood - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1993 | PHOSPHORUS | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 | PHOSPHORUS | • biochemical - True cholinesterase (rat TDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Alteration of classical conditioning (rat TDLo) • blood - Other changes (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Other enzymes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Heart Journal 1972 | PHOSPHORUS | • cardiovascular - Cardiomyopathy, including infarction (woman LDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of the Medical Sciences 1944 | PHOSPHORUS | • metabolic - Body temperature increase (woman TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Hypermotility, diarrhea (woman TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Nausea or vomiting (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Anatomical Record 1973 | PHOSPHORUS | • musculoskeletal - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1911 | PHOSPHORUS | • endocrine system - Hypoglycemia (rabbit LDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Muscle weakness (rabbit LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine 1949 | PHOSPHORUS | • respiratory - Cyanosis (woman LDLo) • gastrointestinal - Nausea or vomiting (woman LDLo) • skin - Sweating (woman LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 | PHOSPHORUS | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (duck LD50) |
| RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 | PHOSPHORUS | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (infant LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 | PHOSPHORUS | • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (duck LDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Muscle weakness (duck LDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (duck LDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | PHOSPHORUS | • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Food intake (animal) (rat LD50) • respiratory - Other changes (rat LD50) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1945 | PHOSPHORUS | • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Fluid intake (woman TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Hypermotility, diarrhea (woman TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Nausea or vomiting (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 | PHOSPHORUS | • biochemical - Dehydrogenases (rat TDLo) • liver - Other changes (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Other enzymes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 | PHOSPHORUS | • liver - Hepatitis (hepatocellular necrosis), diffuse (rat TDLo) • blood - Changes in serum composition (eg., TP, bilirubin, cholesterol) (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Transaminases (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Zdravookhranenie Kazakhstana 1976 | PHOSPHORUS | • reproductive - Female fertility index (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Litter size (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Post-implantation mortality (rat TDLo) |
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. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, 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, 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 | DiPalma, J.A., J. Cunningham, J. Herrera, T. McCaffery, and D. Wolf. Occupational and Industrial Toxin Exposures and the Gastrointestinal Tract. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 86(9): 1107-1117. 1991. (Table 2: Selected Agents with Purported Digestive System Injury)., Dossing, M. and P. Skinhoj. Occupational Liver Injury. Present State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. 56:1-21. 1985. (Table 2: Chemically induced liver injury: morphologic features and examples of confirmed and suspected causative agents)., US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, LaDou, J. (ed.). Occupational Medicine. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CN. 1990., 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., Zimmerman, H.J. and J.H. Lewis. Chemical- and Toxin-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 24(4): 1027-1045. 1995. (Table 3: Forms of environmental hepatic injury). |
| 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, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Pesticide Index," Frear, E 1969 | RTECS®- "Pesticide Index," Frear, E.H., ed., State College, PA, College Science Pub., 1969 4,321,1969 |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva. Neorganicheskie soedinenia elementov V-VII groopp" (Hazardous substances. Inornanic substances containing V-VII group elements), Bandman A.L. et al., Chimia, 1989. -,58,1989 |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1993 | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva. Neorganicheskie soedinenia elementov V-VII groopp" (Hazardous substances. Inornanic substances containing V-VII group elements), Bandman A.L. et al., Chimia, 1989. -,58,1993 |
| RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva 1989 | RTECS®- "Vrednie chemichescie veshestva. Neorganicheskie soedinenia elementov V-VII groopp" (Hazardous substances. Inornanic substances containing V-VII group elements), Bandman A.L. et al., Chimia, 1989. -,59,1989 |
| RTECS®- American Heart Journal 1972 | RTECS®- American Heart Journal. (C.V. Mosby Co., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146) V.1- 1925- 84,139,1972 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of the Medical Sciences 1944 | RTECS®- American Journal of the Medical Sciences. (Slack Inc., 6900 Grove Rd., Thorofare, NJ 08086) New series: V.1- 1841- 209,223,1944 |
| RTECS®- Anatomical Record 1973 | RTECS®- Anatomical Record. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 1906/08- 177,15,1973 |
| RTECS®- Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 1911 | RTECS®- Archiv fuer Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie. (Leipzig, Ger. Dem. Rep.) V.1-109, 1873-1925. For publisher information, see NSAPCC. 64,274,1911 |
| RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine 1949 | RTECS®- Archives of Internal Medicine. (AMA, 535 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610) V.1- 1908- 83,164,1949 |
| RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 | RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology. Robert Krieger ed, Academic press, 2001 2,1400,2001 |
| RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology 2001 | RTECS®- Handbook of pesticide toxicology. Robert Krieger ed, Academic press, 2001 2,1402,2001 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 39,151,1950 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD-B011-150 |
| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1945 | RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine. (Massachusetts Medical Soc., 10 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115) V.198- 1928- 232,247,1945 |
| RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 | RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi. Journal of Health Toxicology. (Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi Bianjibu, Dongdaqiao, Chaoyang Menwai, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China) V.1- 1987 4,206,1990 |
| RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi 1990 | RTECS®- Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi. Journal of Health Toxicology. (Weisheng Dulixue Zazhi Bianjibu, Dongdaqiao, Chaoyang Menwai, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China) V.1- 1987 4,4,1990 |
| RTECS®- Zdravookhranenie Kazakhstana 1976 | RTECS®- Zdravookhranenie Kazakhstana. Public Health of Kazakhstan. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1941- 36(5),87,1976 |
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